New Sturgeon Bay head football coach Matt Landers (right) leads players through an agility drill during practice Aug. 8. Photo by Kevin Boneske.

For the third time in as many years, Sturgeon Bay’s football team has a different head coach.

The Clippers this season feature a young team for new head coach Matt Landers, who previously was an eight-player football head coach for two seasons at Williams Bay High School in southeast Wisconsin. 

Landers, a special education teacher at Sturgeon Bay, previously played 11-player football at Oconomowoc. He said the switch to coaching an 11-player high school team “feels like home.”

His top returning players include junior quarterback Trygg Stuth and sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Alex Boden.

“Many received playing time last season and will be looking to make significant impacts across the board this year,” he said.

They’ll look to make up for the loss of many seniors who were big contributors to last year’s squad that went 3-4 in the Packerland Conference and qualified for the playoffs under interim head coach Jon Dupuis, who remains the school’s athletic director. That marked the team’s third playoff appearance in a row as an 11-player football squad.

Sturgeon Bay graduated three players who made the all-conference first team – Patrick Haese (running back and linebacker), Braylon LaRoche (offensive lineman) and Bryce Plzak (defensive back). 

Sturgeon Bay quarterback Trygg Stuth (right) throws a pass during the Aug. 8 practice inside the high school track. Photo by Kevin Boneske.

Landers said the Clippers will only field a varsity squad, which lacks experience and playing time at the varsity level from previous seasons.

He said this year’s team is a “tight-knit group that strives and pushes each other to get better every day.” 

Landers said the goals of this year’s team are to grow each day learning the offense and defense while growing competitiveness in the conference and he’s looking forward to “watching each one of them grow as an athlete, a student, and a proud presence in the community.”

Sturgeon Bay opens the season at home Aug. 21 with a non-conference game against Brillion. The Clippers begin Packerland play Sept. 5 at Marinette. They face their intra-county rival Oct. 10 at Southern Door, before hosting their final regular-season game Oct. 17 against defending conference champion Bonduel.

2025 Clippers Football Schedule

All games start at 7 pm

Aug. 21 Home vs. Brillion

Aug. 28 Away vs. Antigo

Sept. 5 Away vs. Marinette

Sept. 12 Home vs. Peshtigo

Sept. 19 Home vs. Oconto

Sept. 26 Away vs. Kewaunee

Oct. 2 Away vs. Mishicot

Oct. 10 Away vs. Southern Door

Oct. 17 Home vs. Bonduel

Sturgeon Bay’s Landon Evers (74) goes through an agility drill Aug. 8 during practice. Photo by Kevin Boneske.