When the Bears kickoff their season next Friday night at the Little Rose Bowl, the field they will be playing on will physically be the same; however, it will have a new name. In honor of the long-time head coach of the Bear Football program, the field at the Little Rose Bowl is now named "Butch Pedersen Field".

James "Butch" Pedersen has been the head football coach at West Branch since 1983. His tenure at West Branch High School is the longest of any head coach in the history of the program. It is also the most historical, both in the regular season and postseason as he has amased a career record of 296-74. The win total puts him 13th all-time in Iowa High School Football history and just shy of the elite 300-win group.

His first season as part of the West Branch Football program was as a Junior High coach in 1975. He was promoted as head Fresh-Soph coach in 1976 and then a Varsity assistant in 1977. In 1978, Pedersen was named Varsity defensive coordinator (a position he holds to this day) before taking over head coaching duties in 1983.

From Coach Pedersen's children Lance, Kari, and Kip:

Dad has always stressed that West Branch football is a Community Tradition. The naming of the field is a tribute to all the past, current and future players of West Branch. We are very proud to be a part of this amazing career and to see our Dad's name permanently attached to this field and to the tradition of West Branch Football is very rewarding. Go Bears!

Coach Pedersen has had the pleasure of coaching over 100 players who have been recognized as All-State performers. He has also coached almost 30 Iowa Shrine Bowl players. Teams have earned 25 playoff berths in his 35 seasons and have won 37 of 59 playoff games played. The Bears hold the second longest regular season win streak in state history (62), achieving that feat from 1990-1996. The Bears have won 18 conference or district championships since 1983, including the final Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference championship in 1991.

Off the field, Coach Pedersen has accomplished a great deal as well. He has been a teacher in the West Branch school district since 1975, starting as an Elementary teacher. Pedersen then transitioned to the Junior High before getting a position at West Branch High School where he currently works part-time.

During this 2018 season, a ceremony will be held for Coach Pedersen to honor his successes and the naming of the field. The date of this ceremony has yet to be determined.