Wisconsin Instructors

Jeff Brown

Brad Nemec

Don Tolkacz

Mike Younggren

Jeff earned his bachelors and masters degrees from the University-Wisconsin Whitewater.  He is currently teaching World Cultures at Elkhorn Area School District.  Jeff has been employed at Elkhorn for the past eleven years.  Besides his teaching duties, he also coaches Sophomore Girls Basketball and Baseball.  Jeff has coached basketball at various levels for the past ten years and baseball for the past nine years.  He was also the athletic director at Elkhorn for four years.

Brad Nemec

Brad has been in education as a teacher, coach and athletic administrator for the past 26 years.  This year marks Brad's twentieth year as an Athletic Director.  He currently serves the Somerset School District as its Director of Programs.  Brad has also been active in the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.  He has served as a District Representative for four years and served 4 years as an officer, with 1999-00 as the year of his Presidency.  He has received awards such as Wisconsin State Athletic Director of the Year in 1995-96.  In 2001, he was awarded the Andy Anderson Award for meritorious service from WADA, and in 2003 he received the State Award of Merit from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.  He is also a Certified Athletic Administrator from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, as well as certified to teach 8 of the NIAAA Leadership Courses.  Brad coached football at the High School level for 26 years, with 20 of those years as a Head Coach.  He was inducted in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000, and is a member of the WHSFCA 100 victory club, the twenty year club, and the victors club.  His 1985 football team won the Division 6 State Championship.  He has been head baseball coach and also served as Assistant Coach in both softball and wrestling.  He was recognized with the Kohl Fellowship Teacher Recipient Award in 2000.

Don Tolkacz

Don has been in education as a teacher, coach and athletic administrator for the past 32 years.  2002-03 marked Don's 30th year as an Athletic Director.  He has held this position at 3 different schools ranging from a small public school, a medium sized private school, and presently a large public school.  Don has also been active in the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.  He has served as both a District Representative and a 4 year stint as an officer, with 2001-02 as the year of his Presidency.  He has received awards with his most recent as being selected as teh 2003-2004 Athletic Director of the Year by the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association. Don was also named Wisconsin Independent Schools Man of the Year and Athletic Director of the year for the Independent Schools Association.  In 2001 he was awarded the State Award of Merit from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.  Don presently serves as a member on the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Advisory Council.  He is also a Certified Athletic Administrator from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, as well as certified to teach 7 of the NIAAA Leadership Courses.  Don has coached Football at both the Collegiate and High School level for the past 33 years, with 26 of those years as a Head Coach.  He presently serves as an Assistant Coach in the Pulaski Football program.  Don has also served as an Assistant Coach in the Wisconsin Shrine All Star Football Game.  He has also been a Track Coach for 25 years with 22 of those as a head coach.  His Boys teams have won 3 State Championships and his Girls teams have won 1 state Championship.  He has also served as an Assistant Coach in both baseball and basketball.

Mike Younggren

Mike is currently the athletic/activities director at Wausau East High School and defensive coordinator for the football team.  He has been at East High in Wausau for the past thirteen years.  Mike earned his bachelor's degree in physical education/coaching, and his masters in Secondary Administration from UW-River Falls.  Mike has been in education as a teacher, coach and athletic/activities director for the past 29 years.  He has performed these duties at both small and large high schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as at UW-River Falls, a division III college.  Mike has been active in the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association (WADA) and the National Interscholastic Administrators Association (NIAAA).  He served as President of WADA, developed and implemented the WADA Mentoring Program for new AD's, NIAAA Liaison to WADA, and served on the NIAAA Certification Committee.  Mike has been honored by his peers as Athletic Director of the Year in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.  He is a certified instructor for NIAAA Leadership Training Courses provided for athletic administrators.  He also administers the Certified Athletic Administrators Exam for athletic directors seeking certification in athletic administration.  His wife Mary Shannon is a registered nurse.  They have three sons, Luke (27), Michael (25) and Jack (23).