After 41 seasons on the sidelines at Cambria-Friesland High School football coach Jim Bylsma has decided to retire.
During his tenure Bylsma’s teams have won 16 league titles between the Dual County and the various incarnations of the Trailways.
The legendary coach led the Hilltoppers to the turf at Camp Randall a pair of times during his career. That included the 2002 WIAA Division Seven state championship with a 14-10 win over Eau Claire Regis. Cambria-Friesland also was the 1995 D6 runner-up, dropping a 6-3 decision to Turtle Lake.
Bylsma compiled a record of 279-136 at Cambria-Friesland and was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
The Randolph native began his teaching career as a long term sub at Cambria-Friesland in 1976 then taught middle school science in Fennimore and was an assistant football and JV basketball coach from 1977 to 1980. He returned to Cambria-Friesland in 1981 to teach middle school science and was an football assistant for the 1981 season. He was named head coach of the Hilltoppers in 1982.
Click the link to hear an interview with Hall of Fame Coach Jim Bylsma
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