MONROE — Going into the 2024 football season, it was very important to all of the Monroe football coaching staff that they maintained consistency and that the athletes were supported. With the loss of coach Toby Golembiewski earlier this year and what he meant to the Monroe football program, it was certainly an emotional year for the student athletes as well as the coaches themselves.
Coach Tom Witt was named the interim head coach and all other coaches remained in their coaching staff roles this season. Not only did they accomplish their goal of creating consistency for the players, but they also continued the success that the program has been building over the past eight years.
Monroe football had an overall record of 7-3, including an undefeated Rock Valley Conference record for the fifth year in a row — now with 33 straight conference wins — earning them the outright Rock Valley Conference Championship.
Witt has also been named the Conference Coach of the Year by the Rock Valley Conference for 2024.
Due to the WIAA success multiplier rule, Monroe was bumped up a division this year in the playoffs and lost a very close game in a hard-fought battle with Division 2 Elkhorn in the first round.
Witt has 27 years coaching experience with the Cheesemakers and 30 years overall. Coaches Shawn Paulson, Gerry Herbst, Eric Losenegger, Mike Figi, Rob Schilt, and Ryan Paulson will all continue in their roles and all play a vital role in the Cheesemakers’ future success.
“Coaching is not just what one sees on the field on Friday nights,” Monroe Athletic Director Erick Jubeck said. “The Monroe football program has been developing from the youth levels up through high school for the past eight years, working under a coaching/playing philosophy brought in by Coach Golembiewski and continued by the current coaching staff.”
Monroe coaches told Jubeck that they feel really good about the program as a whole and feel that the current philosophy that has brought the high school team so much success, including the 2022 state championship, is consistent across all levels and it is critical that this momentum continues.
