Football: Lodi's Puls headed to WFCA Hall of Fame

Former Lodi head coach Dave Puls is among the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association 2025 Hall of Fame inductees.

Puls retired after leading the Blue Devils to their second state gridiron title last fall, finishing with a 175-48 record. Puls also guided Lodi to its first-ever state football championship in 2017, when the Blue Devils topped St. Croix Central to win the WIAA Division 4 title, capping off a perfect 14-0 season.

In 2023, the Blue Devils went 15-0 en route to another Division 4 championship, which turned out to be Puls’ last game. Lodi downed Luxemburg-Casco 38-14 in the 2023 state title game.

Puls is joined by Jack Batten (West DePere/Green Bay East/Green Bay Preble), Bob Hepp (Independence/Manitowoc Lincoln/Viroqua/Campbellsport/Portage/Pardeeville), James Knudson (Cambria-Friesland), Tom Kujawa (Cudahy/Germantown), James Matthys (Brodhead-Juda), Pete McAdams (Stevens Point/UW-Stevens Point), Cory Milz (Black Hawk), Mike Olson (Pepin-Alma), Jim Peterson (Clayton/Rice Lake), James Schara (Cedarburg/Southern Door/Homestead) and William Stanley (Menomonie).

The 46th enshrinement into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame takes place in Madison at the Marriott West on Saturday, April 5. A total of 12 new members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Two National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductees — Greg Lehman (Milwaukee Washington) and Chuck Raycovich (Chippewa Falls) — from Wisconsin will also be recognized, along with this year’s recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award (Bob Brainerd, media broadcaster) and the Margie and Dick Rundle Positive Influence of Coaching Award (Anton Graham, Racine Case). The Hall of Fame Banquet is open to the public.

DATE: Saturday, April 5, 2025

PLACE: Marriott West, 1313 John Q Hammons Dr., Middleton, WI 53562

TIME: Reception 4:30-5:30 p.m., Dinner 5:30 p.m.

TICKETS: You can purchase Hall of Fame Banquet tickets online by clicking here, or by sending a check or money order for $50.00 ea. to PO Box 8, Poynette, WI 53955. No phone orders will be accepted until after Friday, March 21, 2025 when there will be only be a very limited number of tickets still available. You must contact Charna to hold a ticket/s at will-call after that date! Charna Kelsey — office@wifca.org, Office: 608-635-7318, or Cell: 608-843-7318