Lombardi is still a fixture at Lambeau Field

Vince Lombardi, coiner of quotable epigrams and leader of the Green Bay Packers during their glory years, will retain his seat at the head of the football coaching pantheon for as long as the game is played. But that doesn’t mean he’s the only Wisconsin coach who’s pushed his teams to greatness through hard work, command of the game, and an inspiring personality. Here’s a list of some of the most famous football coaches in Chippewa Valley history, all of them enshrined in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

LINCOLN “LINK” WALKER grew up in Eau Claire and after service in World War II attended Eau Claire State Teachers College, where he was quarterback of the Blugolds conference championship team in 1948. Walker became head coach in 1968 and coached the Blugolds for 19 seasons, amassing a 104-85-3 record, making him the team’s longest-serving and winningest coach. His most successful stretch came in the early 1980s, when the team had a 21-3 conference record over three seasons and went undefeated in the league in 1981. When Link retired, then-Athletic Director Steve Kurth had this to say: “He has had the respect of coaches everywhere. He has had some great teams and some great athletes. Link always liked tough football and tough football players. He liked the competition best when we played against the best opponents.”

HOWARD L. “CHICK” KOLSTAD, also an Eau Claire native and World War II veteran, was a standout athlete at both Eau Claire High School and Eau Claire State Teachers College. After stints at several other schools, “Chick” took over the program at St. Patrick’s High School (now Regis High School) where he amassed a 61-20 record and one state championship between 1950 and 1960. He then became a college coach, leading the St. Norbert Green Knights to a 96-76-5 record over 19 seasons.

JOHN PHELPS, who played football for four years at UW-River Falls, coached the Eau Claire North Huskies for 26 seasons beginning in 1981. During his tenure the team won more than 100 games and earned seven playoff berths, the only such appearances in Husky history. Though retired, Phelps’ legacy continues: Many of his assistant coaches went on to head coaching jobs at the high school and college levels.

CHRIS O’CONNELL has a lot to do with Regis High School’s reputation as a regional football powerhouse. He coached the Ramblers to an impressive 129-69 record over 18 seasons and an astonishing 49-4 record in his last four years. After leading the Ramblers to four state championships – in 1992, 1993, 1999, and 2003 – he retired from coaching in 2007.

CHUCK RAYKOVICH has been at the helm of the Chippewa Falls Senior High School football team since 1986. The next year, he led the Cardinals to their very first Big Rivers Conference championship and first-ever playoff berth. Over the years, he’s coached six more conference championship teams and the Cardinals have reached the playoffs 14 times.