Coach Pedersen nominated for Ed Thomas Coach of the Week Award

By Jason Miller  |   September 3, 2013, 3:44 p.m.

West Branch Head Coach Butch Pedersen has been named the first recipient of the Ed Thomas Coach of the Week award. Thomas led Aplington-Parkersburg to 4 state championships and ranks 12th on the all-time victories list in Iowa HS football with 292. The award goes to coaches throughout eastern Iowa who embody the faith, family and character ideals Coach Thomas was known for: teaching kids about life through sports. KGAN-CBS2 will be filming at practice this afternoon. They will capture practice footage, speak with former players and current WBFB coaches Jarod Tylee and Caleb Walter, and speak with Mike Quinlan (the Voice of the Bears). The interview will be shown this Thursday evening, September 5, during the 9pm FOXNews (28) and 10pm KGAN (ch 2) news. "This award is very humbling for me." Coach Pedersen said. "I feel that, along than being inducted to the Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, this is about the most gratifying honor a coach in Iowa can receive." Pedersen has been the head varsity football coach in WB since 1983 and has amassed a career record of 255-63 (80.2% winning pct). The Bears had the opportunity to play against Coach Thomas teams three times. "Being able to call Ed my friend, and coaching against him, was/is such an honor."