Madison, WI – January 15, Representative Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger) recognized Bill Jacklin, Head Varsity Football Coach of the Slinger Owls, as a Hometown Hero of the 58th Assembly District. Jacklin is a lifelong member of the Slinger community and a 1988 graduate of Slinger High School who returned to his alma mater as a coach and was named head coach in 2010. In 2024, he led the Slinger Owls to a perfect 14–0 season and the school’s second state football championship, capped by a 31–30 victory over Rice Lake in the WIAA Division 2 State Championship Game at Camp Randall Stadium. In 2025, Jacklin was named the NFL’s Don Shula National High School Coach of the Year for the NFC. Following today’s recognition, Rep. Gundrum released the following statement:
“Coach Bill Jacklin represents the very best of our community. He is a dedicated educator, a respected leader, and someone who has spent his life investing in young people in Slinger and the surrounding area. As a proud graduate of Slinger High School, Bill returned home to give back to the school and town that shaped him, and for more than a decade he has led the Slinger Owls with integrity, discipline, and heart.
“Even in the face of profound personal loss, Coach Jacklin continued to show up for his players and students, demonstrating strength, humility, and resilience. His leadership during those moments speaks volumes about his character. The historic 2024 championship season and his national recognition as the NFL’s Don Shula High School Coach of the Year are well-deserved, but his greatest legacy will always be the positive impact he has had on generations of young people. It is an honor to recognize Coach Jacklin as a Hometown Hero of the 58th Assembly District.”
