Script letter B with football laces

West Branch Football

About this website

Coach Pedersen selected as head coach of 2019 Shrine Bowl South Squad

The list of awards for the long-time head coach keeps growing.

By Matt Chinander  |   July 3, 2018, 2:00 a.m.

Monday the Iowa Football Coaches Association and the Iowa Shriners made their selections for head coaches of the 2019 Iowa Shrine Bowl game. Accepting the position of head coach of the South Squad is West Branch Football head coach, Butch Pedersen.

Ken Winkler, Executive Secretary of the Iowa Football Coaches Association, called Coach Pedersen today to extend to him the invitation to be the South Squad's head coach. It was an invitation he didn't have to think twice about accepting, Coach Pedersen said to WestBranchFootball.com in an interview.

It’s a tremendous honor to be selected as a coach, but to be the head coach is something truly, truly special. It’s an elite bowl game for any player and I’m honored that I’ll get to be their head coach.

Coach Pedersen is no stranger to the Shrine Bowl game in his tenure at West Branch. In 1993, he was selected to the Shrine Bowl coaching staff an assistant. Over a quarter century later, he will get his opportunity to be the head coach.

I’m excited to raise money for the Shriners so that they can help children in need and to better their lives. It’s incredible what everyone within the organization has been able to accomplish for those in need. I have an incredible amount of respect for all of the people involved.

Since the Iowa Shrine Bowl began playing in 1973, 30 West Branch Football players have been selected to play in the game that takes place at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls each July. Coach Pedersen has had the honor of being the coach of all but two of those players.

Later this year, says Coach Pedersen, he will get together with the Iowa Football Coaches Association to make selections for his assistant staff as well as the players on the 2019 South Squad roster.

Coach Pedersen's selection as head coach of a Shrine Bowl team is the latest addition to the list of honors and awards he has received in his head coaching tenure. That list includes multiple Coach of the Year awards, Iowa Hall of Fame, Wall of Fame, and the most recent being the National Coach of the Year.

Congratulations to Coach Pedersen on this selection!