Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week Ryan Scherz Discusses Community Engagement

River Falls High School (WI) head coach Ryan Scherz knows the importance of giving back to the community. 

Scherz, whose team advanced to the Wisconsin Division 2 quartefinals, was honored by the Green Bay Packers as their High School Coach of the Week.

Off the field, Scherz's players are helping to grow football at the grassroots level by volunteering at River Falls youth football games as officials. The team also runs spring football camp every year.

"We want to build a connection between the varsity and the younger groups," Scherz told Packers.com. "We've done a really good job of finding ways to get those kids in front of our players. Our youth football association works with us really well to make that something that's really fun for kids and makes them want to be Wildcats. Our kids are just really good at connecting to the community.

"We had a seventh grader that had a hip surgery and all of a sudden, I found out that a bunch of our kids were reaching out to him and wishing him good luck. We invited him on the field before a game. And we just look for different ways where we can make it bigger than just wins and losses."

Scherz was awarded a $2,000 donation to the school's football program from the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Wild Wings and the NFL Foundation. He gives all the credit to the River Falls community and his coaching staff. 

"Since I've come here, the community has been incredibly supportive of the football program. I view it as a community award and a coaching staff award. Our coaching staff, I'd put it up against anybody. It's one of the best in the state and it's certainly not just about me. We have outstanding individuals who really care about kids and also really know football. I certainly wouldn't be in a position to win an award without those guys."

Below are the Week 10 Coach of the Week winners from around the nation.

AFC

NFC