Chemistry Teacher David Quam Takes Over as Head Football Coach at Nicolet

It's been a long, bumpy road for Nicolet High School's football program. In the last four years, the head football coach position has been filled and re-filled four times. But this time, Nicolet is cultivating coaching talent from the inside and chemistry teacher David Quam will take the reigns. 

"Teaching and coaching at Nicolet, I know the players here, and I now know many of the kids in the youth program," Quam said. "That, coupled with my 20 years of coaching experience, I hope to provide a good experience for the athletes and continue to build the program."

Quam played football at St. Olaf College. He then went on to coach at Whitefish Bay High School and coached at Nicolet for seven years as an assistant.

Nicolet was 3-6 last season and 1-6 in the North Shore Conference, according to WisSports.net. The Knights have not had a winning season in at least 10 years.

Quam's appointment follows the resignation of Brad Kozaczuk, who had a

Kozaczuk said his main reason for resigning was because he felt unsafe at a school where he could not defend himself against a student who was threatening to physically harm him. He is no longer coaching or working at Nicolet. 

On Monday night, the Nicolet School Board unanimously voted to approve Quam as the new head football coach. Board member Mort Grodsky was on the original selection committee when Quam was hired in the 1990s and since then, all three of Grodksy's children have had classes with and/or played sports for Quam.

"I've known Dave for a long time and have a lot of respect for him," Grodsky said. "We know that his appointment has been applauded by the football commuity in our area and were satisfied that we have continunity now."

Board President Marilyn Franklin has similar sentiments about Quam's appointment and said she hopes this will lead to a win-win for both the school and the football season.  

"We are really excited to have him be the football coach because he is on staff and it's always better to have a staff person," School Board President Marilyn Franklin said. "He has a familiarity with the kids so it makes for a win-win for everybody and, hopefully, a win-win for the football season."