Clay Iverson has been the Head Football Coach at Pewaukee High School for six seasons, guiding the Pirates to three Woodland Conference championships, posting a stellar record of 50-14 along the way.  Iverson has beamed after watching young men graduate and continue football success at the collegiate level, but last week may have topped his list.

In a monthly newsletter Iverson sends out to supporters of the Pewaukee football program, the Pirates coach described in detail the front row experience he shared with his former Pewaukee player, JJ Watt, the 11^th player chosen in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.  Iverson and his assistant coach Mike Lecher were guests of Watt and his family in New York.

*Coach Iverson pictured on the far left*

Pewaukee Newsletter – April 2011

In my six years as Head Coach of the Pewaukee Football Program this might be the most eventful and exciting off season month we have ever had.  We finished our first weight room testing period with great results, started our NXLevel workouts, started our MMA workouts, met with football staffs from around the Midwest,  planning our golf outing and of course saw Pewaukee Football’s own JJ Watt drafted by the Houston Texans at #11 in this year’s NFL Draft.

The Draft

There is not room to talk about the entire experience that Coach Lecher and I were honored with from the Watts in New York in this newsletter, I will try to share some of the highlights however.  Let me first say the fact that JJ and his family invited us out to watch JJ’s efforts pay off is a credit to JJ and his family and a highlight in itself.

For anyone that is jaded or fed up with professional athletes, here is one you can root for; not just because he is from Pewaukee but because of the young man he is.  JJ and his family have met so many people over the years, people that are much more famous, can do more for them, and frankly have a lot more money than Coach Lecher or myself that they could have invited, yet when the rubber hit the road they decided to fly out two high school coaches to watch a dream come true.  It is emotional for me to even write about it now.

The trip was amazing, to be back in the green room with all these young men, their families, college coaches, agents, media and more was really a once in a lifetime moment.  I will say this, it was different then I imagined.  It is a tense situation watching people get picked, not getting picked, surprises, disappointments; it was really something to see.  I will never watch the draft the same way again.  It was a thrill to be there, a thrill to be on stage at Radio City Music Hall with JJ and his family when he was selected, a thrill to see the great athletes and coaches, emotional to see Coach Lecher be a part of such an event after 45 years in this business. However, when people ask me the best part, the part that I will always remember, the one thing burned in my brain – well that is easy; when JJ got the phone call that he was selected to play football professionally in the NFL was head and shoulders above anything else.  It gives me chills to reflect on it, to watch a young man that is filled with passion for football and life, that has such a big heart, has not forgotten where he has come from – to see that accomplishment; well that tops everything.  We had a great time being ambassadors and representing the school district and of course PHS Football.

Thank you to the Watt family for providing such a great experience to a couple of high school teachers and coaches.

Thank you as well to all of the community members that showed up at the Sand Bar for the draft party, I can tell all of you JJ and his family were very grateful for all the messages and well wishes.  It was fun to come home and watch our community shine on T.V. (especially Grandpa Watt and his great interviews).  Thank you to the Sand Bar as well for working with us to put on such an event.

It was simply an amazing night for our community, district, football program, and most importantly a professional football player you can feel great rooting for.