Edgar head football coach Jerry Sinz in elite company with 400 wins

EDGAR - To Edgar Wildcats football coach Jerry Sinz, Friday night's game "felt like just another game honestly," he said.

Victory is common for the Edgar football team and common for coach Sinz. But the accomplishment that came with Edgar's 70-0 dismantling of Chequamegon is anything but ordinary. 

With the win, Sinz joined elite company, becoming just the second football coach in Wisconsin history to reach 400 wins. Win No. 400 couldn't have come on a better night as it was alumni night and it highlighted the longevity of Sinz and the football juggernaut he has built at Edgar. 

"We have a great staff here," senior Cade Schraufnagel said. "They watch a lot of film and do a lot for us. It's pretty cool for us to be the group that won No. 400."

Sinz has been at the helm of the Wildcats football team since 1975 and has led the program to seven state titles, 11 state championship appearances and the Wildcats haven't missed the playoffs in more than two decades. 

His overall record at Edgar is 400-80. St. Mary's Springs' Bob Hyland is the only prep football coach in Wisconsin history with more wins than Sinz. Hyland, who has been with the Ledgers since 1971 is 442-105-2

"The players the parents, the community support has been fabulous and probably gotten better as the years have gone on," Sinz said. "It's fun to share it with people, with the community and former players. It's pretty neat it fell on this (alumni) night."

One glance at his staff shows the effect Sinz has had on and off the field with most of his coaches having played for him at Edgar.

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Defensive coordinator Greg Streit and former Badger and special teams coach Andrew Lukasko are two former players and are now coaches under Sinz. 

"It's a testament to what he brings and the culture he's brought here," Streit said of coach Sinz achieving his 400th win. "The attention to detail, the first-in, last-out mentality that he's brought here, now with four of us alumni coaching with him, it's obviously meant something to us and our lives to come back and be a part of and help build this program."

Added Lukasko: "To come back, full-circle, be on the staff with coach Sinz and give back to the community of Edgar, it's pretty special. For him to win 400 on this night, in Edgar, it's a really a great night for him."

After the game alumni shook coach Sinz's hand, hugged him and took pictures with him. But Sinz smiled and seemed to embrace the moment when his family came on the field, including on of his grandsons who gave him a bite of cupcake. 

"I was very happy they were able to make it, it's no fun to enjoy these things alone," he said.

The impact Sinz has had on those that have played for him has been immeasurable. 

"I always looked up to him, I have the same degree and teach the same things he used to," Streit said. He's just a great coach and a great man. So many people are here and people proud to be Wildcats and coach Sinz created that culture in Edgar. It's irreplaceable."

The hardest part of the night may have been finishing the 400 cupcakes made by his players' mothers. 

Sinz is going to enjoy the win for a bit, but not long. It's just how he's wired. The attention will quickly turn to Week 6. The writing will be on the white board in the weight room waiting for the Wildcats at 6:30 a.m. Monday. 

The little things is what makes the difference and why Sinz will go down as one of the winningest coaches of all-time.

The attention to detail and the little things," Streit said is what separates coach Sinz. "They are easy to do but nobody wants to. He's going to be the last one to leave here tonight. He'll take the laundry to the laundry spot ... then he'll be the first one in Monday morning."

Sinz's attention to detail has led to 400 wins and just may lead to nine more wins and an eighth state title in 2017. 

This group really works hard," he said. "They have really been great and I'm really thankful for this group. It has a lot of characters but good characters. I tell them in 10 and 20 years they could be talking about the 2017 team ..."

With Sinz leading the way.