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Notre Dame Academy Football Coaches

Mike Rader

Head Coach

Mike played football under Coach John Nowak at NDA when the school opened in 1990, also competing in basketball and track. Graduating in 1992, he went on to play college football at the University of Wisconsin, earning degrees in engineering and business. Following graduation, Mike and his wife Amy (NDA '93) settled in DePere and Mike returned to NDA, first to coach the offensive line, then served as offensive coordinator, and after Coach Nowak's retirement, became the head coach in 2017. The Raders have 5 children, 4 graduates of NDA (Michael Jr '17, Matthew '18, Molly '20, and Max '22) and one current student, Andrew '25. 

Contact: ndafootballcoach@gmail.com

 

 

Tony Giovanetti

Varsity Coach

Tony played football at John I Leonard High School in Lake Worth, Florida, being named Most Valuable Defensive Player as well as All-Conference and All-District Defensive Player. He continued to play football at the collegiate level, at Concordia University Wisconsin. There, he was named 2 time All-American, All-Conference for 3 years, and making it into the Hall of Fame. He is the defensive coordinator and coaches the linebackers. He has been with Notre Dame for more than 30 years. Tony and his wife Patti live in Green Bay. They have 3 children, 2 NDA alumni, Coach AJ (strenth and conditioning), daughter Hannah, and current student Vinnie '26. 

Chris Nowak

Varsity Coach

Chris played football for Notre Dame, graduating in 2003 and winning awards such as First Team All-State Wide Receiver, Second Team All-State Wide Receiver and Defensive Back, and Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. He went on to play for Michigan Tech, being named Honorable Mention All-Conference Outside Linebacker and First Team Academic All-American. He coaches outside linebackers, defensive backs, and special teams, as well as helps coordinate the defense. This is his 16th year coaching for Notre Dame and is on the faculty as well. His long standing tenure with NDA football includes playing for 4 years and serving as water and ball boy for 6 years, making this his 26th season of doing something for the football program! Chris's father, John was head coach for 31 seasons, making it to 8 state championship games, winning 3. Mother Lu Ann, brother Shawn (NDA '93) who also played and coached at NDA, and sister Lindsey, who was water and ball girl. NDA football is forever indebted to the entire Nowak family. 

Max McHugh

Varsity Coach

Max, 2008 NDA almunus, played four years in high school and was named All-Conference Punter and Kicker. McHugh then played for another 2 years at St. John's University, graduating from SJU in 2012.  He has been coaching NDA football since 2017 as an assistant coach for the Varsity team, working with the offensive and defensive lines as well as special teams. He is married to Hayley and they reside in Appleton. He is beginning his teaching career at Notre Dame of DePere in the GRACE system, teaching phy ed and health. 

Nate Ihlenfeldt

Varsity Coach


Jim Flanigan

Varsity Coach

Jim is in his 6th year of coaching football and his third with NDA where he is an assistant defensive line coach. He also serves as an assistant track coach at NDA focusing on throwing events, primarily shot put. A native of Door County, WI, Jim attended Southern Door High School where he participated in basketball, track, and football, helping the Eagles win their first state championship football title in 1989.

Jim went on to play college football at the University of Notre Dame, earning a degree in management information systems. Following his time at Notre Dame, Jim played 10 seasons in the NFL as a defensive tackle and was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2000.

After retiring from the NFL Jim and his wife, Mary, relocated to Green Bay in 2005 and have three children, Ellie (currently attending UW Madison), James (‘25) and Richie (’27) both attending NDA. 

Ben Augustine

Varsity Coach

Married to Jill with 4 children, living in Ledgeview. Macy (NDA '21, Edgewood College majoring in Nursing), Max (NDA '23, UW-Stout playing football), Abe (NDA '25 football and basketball), Meg will be a Freshman at NDA (tennis, basketball).

Ben was a 3 sport varsity athlete and grew up in Kewaunee, WI. Played football, basketball, and baseball graduating in 1998.

This will be Ben's 3rd year coaching football at Notre Dame Academy. Prior to this, he was the head coach and ran the Notre Dame of De Pere Middle school football program for 5+ years. He's currently coaching the Varsity running backs and fullbacks as well as running the scout team offense.  He also has experience working with outside linebackers.

John Saharsky

Varsity Coach

John is a 1998 graduate of NDA. Earning degrees from Marquette and Marian Universities, he has coached football in the Green Bay area since 2013, including some time with the GB Blizzard. He joined Coach Rader's staff in 2021 and works with the offense, most often with the quarterbacks.  John has been married to his wife, Evangeline,  for 18 years, and they have two daughters, Cordelia (age 11) and Veronica (age 9).

Chris Francies

Varsity Coach

Coach Francies is in his second year at NDA and his focus is the wide receivers and defensive backs. Chris attended high school and played football in Houston at Cypress Falls and played his college football at University of Texas- El Paso. Chris was able to continue playing in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers before shifting to coaching. Married, Chris and his wife have 3 young kids. 2 girls and a boy. 

Fr. Mark Mleziva

Team Chaplain

Fr. Mark graduated from Luxemburg-Casco High School in 2006 having played football, basketball, and baseball.  When it comes to football, he played on the offensive line primarily at right tackle.  After high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison earning a degree in Secondary Education-Social Studies.  However, it was during his time in college that he felt called to the priesthood, and after graduation, pursued that vocation.  

This is Fr. Mark's sixth year as a high school football chaplain with five of those years being at Notre Dame.  He first began at Roncalli High School in Manitowoc.  Since last year, he has also been the chaplain for the Green Bay Packers.  

His role on the staff is to help build the faith of the athletes and coaches.  Through prayer and conversation, he aims to show the connection between football and living out our faith in the Catholic Church as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Tyler Arkens

JV-1 Coach

Jim McHugh

JV-1 Coach

Jim McHugh graduated from Assumption Lutheran in 1980, where he played both offensive and defensive line, also competing in Basketball, Track and Baseball.  He played college football at St. John’s in Collegeville, Minnesota. This is his sixth year coaching JV1 football, but he also has spent many years as a basketball coach for Notre Dame. Jim is married to Katie and they have 4 grown children, all of whom graduated from NDA, including Coach Max, and now have 6 grandchildren as well!

Stanley Smith

JV-1 Coach 

Stanley is new to the NDA staff in 2023. 

Nate Hoerning

JV-1 Coach

Coach Nate is married to his wife, Danielle.

In his younger years, Nate played a lot of sports while growing up. He played football under Coach Nowak, played basketball and ran track at Notre Dame. 

This is Nate's second year coaching football.  He is a member of the JV1 coaching staff, helping out on both offense and defense where needed.

Matt Bumgardner

JV-2 Coach

Matt and his wife Melissa (NDA '91) live in Green Bay with their two boys Nick (NDA '22) and Ty (NDA '27).  He was a three time first  team all conference offensive lineman, team captain, Preseason All American, and team MVP during his career at St. Norbert College. Matt has been coaching for twenty seven years. His experiences include coaching at St. Norbert College, Kimberly High School, and he also served as the Director of the Allouez Bucs Youth Football Program. This is Matt's first year on the NDA staff.

Bill Harrington

JV-2 Coach

Bill has a brother Tim, graduate of Premontre 1982, who lives in Beaufort, SC, sister Maureen, graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy 1988, who lives in Haslet, TX and my youngest sister, Katie, graduate of Notre Dame Academy 1993, who lives in North Wales, PA. Bill's parents, Bill and Ellen, still live in the area and his mom will turn 90 next year!

Bill started playing tackle football in 7th grade (1974) and played through high school 1979, including being crowned a WISAA state champion as a senior (1978). He played basketball, track, baseball and softball (modified). Harrington has also been fortunate to win several state championships as a football coach. He started coaching football at Premontre in 1986 and retired in 2017 (32 years). He is happy to be back coaching Freshman (JV-2) again, where he sees his role as teaching the wide receivers and the defensive backs the basic fundamentals of the NDA approach to the game and provide consistency through every level of the program so that the transition from JV-2 to JV-1 to Varsity is seamless.

Jason Wery

JV-2 Coach

Jason played football and baseball at NDA from 1994-1997 and played college baseball at UW Milwaukee. He has been coaching youth football in the Green Bay area for over 10 years and is also an assistant coach for the NDA baseball program.

AJ Giovanetti

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Graduated from NDA in 2004, where he competed in Football & Track 2000-2004 and then continued to play football at Upper Iowa University 2004-2005 and Concordia University Wisconsin 2006-2007. Coach AJ went on to earn a B.S. in Exercise Physiology and an M.S. in Teaching and Learning from Concordia University Wisconsin. Has been coaching at NDA since 2009 (in different roles) and teaching since 2013. Currently AJ is teaching in the Physical Education Department and has been the Strength and Conditioning Coach since 2015.

Contact: 920-429-6174

Traci Vanderloop

Licensed Athletic Trainer

Traci grew up in Kaukauna, where she excelled in golf (4 years at Kaukauna HS, 4 years at Carroll University, 3 years of Kaukauna youth/Junior PGA). She also competed for many years in basketball, track and field, soccer and softball. Traci obtained her bachelor's degree at Carroll University while playing collegiate golf and provides athletic training services to all NDA athletes courtesy of Bellin Health. 

She has served 12 years as a Licensed Athletic Trainer (2 years with Waukesha Youth Football and 10 years at New Berlin Eisenhower HS); 2 years as a Student Athletic Trainer at Carroll University, before coming to NDA in 2023. She has one dog, Bogey, and family includes Parents, Tom and Nancy,  Brothers, Kevin and Brian [Becca (Sister in Law), Hunter and Jaxon (Nephews)].

Contact: traci.vanderloop@bellin.org