MONROE - Former Wisconsin Badger Kyle Wojta's dream is to play in the NFL. When achieving that dream got off to a slow start, Wojta was excited when he found a welcoming job coaching football at Monroe High School.
Wojta was a long snapper for the Badgers for the last three years, winning two Big Ten championships in his final two seasons. After graduation, Wojta was invited as a rookie free agent to the Chicago Bears rookie minicamp.
With 15-year veteran Patrick Mannelly entrenched as the long snapper for the Bears, Wojta knew he would be a long shot. So when he got cut, Wojta was not surprised.
"He's a legend as far as snappers go," Wojta said of Mannelly. "Unfortunately, I got cut. I knew if he came back it would be his job. I went in and performed well. It was just the wrong time and place. It was a great experience. It's a tough position to get into. Long snappers are only drafted like once every three years."
Wojta considered trying to find a college coaching position, but a different opportunity came up. His wife, Allison Wojta, is a teacher at Northside Elementary School in Monroe, so Wojta looked into a coaching position for the Monroe High School football team.
"A freshmen coaching position opened in Monroe and I talked to Curt Miller and Dave Hirsbrunner," Wojta said. "I decided if I don't get a job in the NFL, I would get a job coaching football. I always wanted to coach football. It's a passion of mine."
Wojta will serve as a special teams coach and follow in the footsteps of his father, Todd Wojta, who coached freshmen football at Madison Edgewood High School for five years.
He is expected to make an impact with the long snappers, kickers, holders and punters on the varsity team.
"I know the ins-and-outs of kicking and punting," Wojta said. "Special teams is one-third of the game."
When he was a varsity player at Madison La Follette High School, Wojta starred as a tight end, wide receiver and quarterback. He was a two-time all-conference player, two-time all-region and was ranked as one of the top quarterbacks in the state.
Monroe head coach Curt Miller already sees Wojta as a difference-maker coaching the freshmen.
"He's been a great addition so far," Miller said. "He brings that youthful energy that a 22-year-old fresh out of college brings. He brings that experience of playing at the highest level of football. He understands what it takes to be successful."
Wojta isn't the only new coach for the Cheesemakers. Curt Miller's father, Doug Miller who coached 31 years at Waterloo and amassed 222 career wins, will also serve as a volunteer assistant varsity coach.
"His experience at the high school level is hard to duplicate," Curt Miller said. "It's a huge advantage to our program to have him working with the offensive linemen. He has been my inspiration to be a coach since I was young enough and could understand football."
So with experienced coaches around him, Wojta begins his own coaching career. However, he will always remember his time with the Badgers.
"It was a dream come true to play for the Badgers, win two Big Ten championships and play in two Rose Bowls," he said. "It's always something I will remember and hold dear to my heart."
And Wojta isn't giving up hope of landing an NFL job down the road.
"Hopefully, in the next couple of years I can get a position in the NFL," he said. "You don't need 32 teams (to come calling), you just need one."
Wojta was a long snapper for the Badgers for the last three years, winning two Big Ten championships in his final two seasons. After graduation, Wojta was invited as a rookie free agent to the Chicago Bears rookie minicamp.
With 15-year veteran Patrick Mannelly entrenched as the long snapper for the Bears, Wojta knew he would be a long shot. So when he got cut, Wojta was not surprised.
"He's a legend as far as snappers go," Wojta said of Mannelly. "Unfortunately, I got cut. I knew if he came back it would be his job. I went in and performed well. It was just the wrong time and place. It was a great experience. It's a tough position to get into. Long snappers are only drafted like once every three years."
Wojta considered trying to find a college coaching position, but a different opportunity came up. His wife, Allison Wojta, is a teacher at Northside Elementary School in Monroe, so Wojta looked into a coaching position for the Monroe High School football team.
"A freshmen coaching position opened in Monroe and I talked to Curt Miller and Dave Hirsbrunner," Wojta said. "I decided if I don't get a job in the NFL, I would get a job coaching football. I always wanted to coach football. It's a passion of mine."
Wojta will serve as a special teams coach and follow in the footsteps of his father, Todd Wojta, who coached freshmen football at Madison Edgewood High School for five years.
He is expected to make an impact with the long snappers, kickers, holders and punters on the varsity team.
"I know the ins-and-outs of kicking and punting," Wojta said. "Special teams is one-third of the game."
When he was a varsity player at Madison La Follette High School, Wojta starred as a tight end, wide receiver and quarterback. He was a two-time all-conference player, two-time all-region and was ranked as one of the top quarterbacks in the state.
Monroe head coach Curt Miller already sees Wojta as a difference-maker coaching the freshmen.
"He's been a great addition so far," Miller said. "He brings that youthful energy that a 22-year-old fresh out of college brings. He brings that experience of playing at the highest level of football. He understands what it takes to be successful."
Wojta isn't the only new coach for the Cheesemakers. Curt Miller's father, Doug Miller who coached 31 years at Waterloo and amassed 222 career wins, will also serve as a volunteer assistant varsity coach.
"His experience at the high school level is hard to duplicate," Curt Miller said. "It's a huge advantage to our program to have him working with the offensive linemen. He has been my inspiration to be a coach since I was young enough and could understand football."
So with experienced coaches around him, Wojta begins his own coaching career. However, he will always remember his time with the Badgers.
"It was a dream come true to play for the Badgers, win two Big Ten championships and play in two Rose Bowls," he said. "It's always something I will remember and hold dear to my heart."
And Wojta isn't giving up hope of landing an NFL job down the road.
"Hopefully, in the next couple of years I can get a position in the NFL," he said. "You don't need 32 teams (to come calling), you just need one."
