Meet James Butch Pedersen, who started his coaching career as a junior high coach in 1975 at West Branch High School. He became head Fresh-Soph coach in 1976, and a varsity assistant in 1977.

In 1978, Pedersen was named varsity defensive coordinator. Pedersen’s first season as head coach in 1983 resulted in an 8-1 record. In 1988, the West Branch football program earned its first Iowa High School State Playoffs berth, and in 1989, the Bears won their first state football championship.

They went on to a semifinal berth in 1990 and then completed two consecutive undefeated seasons in 1991 and 1992, winning two more state championships. The Bears hold the second-longest regular-season win streak in state history (62), which they achieved from 1990-1996.

Pedersen has led the team to three state championships in total. Let’s check out his full biography, Wikipedia biodata and net worth below.

Butch Pedersen Biography

James Norman “Butch” Pedersen was a famous football coach from West Branch, Iowa who passed away at the age of 73 in 2023. He began coaching for the West Branch football team in 1975 and became the varsity defensive coordinator in 1978.

Pedersen led the West Branch Bears to over 300 victories and three state titles in 1989, 1991, and 1992, and was named the national coach of the year in 1992.

He joined West Branch High School in 1983 as head coach and stayed there for many years. Pedersen believed that football was a tough sport and only tough people could play it.

Wife | Children | Grandchildren

• Pedersen has been a teacher at West Branch High School since 1975.
• He enjoys watching the Iowa Hawkeyes in Kinnick and Carver, as well as the Green Bay Packers.
• Pedersen’s wife, Jennifer, is a West Branch High School graduate and retired after 42 years of working at the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum in West Branch.
• The couple has three children, Lance, Kari (Dan), and Kip (Alisha), and eight grandchildren. ((https://westbranch.football/coaches/butch-pedersen))

Accomplishments

In recognition of his achievements, Pedersen has received many accolades. In 1994, he was inducted into the Iowa HS Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was named Iowa HS football Coach of the Year (all classes) in 1991 and has been named Conference or District Coach of the Year 12 times.

He was also inducted into the Cedar County Historical Society Wall of Fame in 2009. In 2017, he was named National Coach of the Year by the NFHSCA and was named head coach of the South Squad for the 2019 Shrine Bowl.

Pedersen’s career record stands at 338 wins, 84 losses (80% winning percentage) as of the end of the 2022 season. Unfortunately, he passed away on 3 April 2023.

Cause of Butch Pedersen’s Death

egendary football coach Butch Pedersen passed away at the age of 73 on April 3, 2023, ((thecrunchyreport.com)) after battling myelodysplastic syndrome, a type of blood cancer ((kcrg.com)). He entered hospice care last week but unfortunately, his condition worsened, and he passed away on Monday morning. ((newstries.com))

How Long Did He Battle Cancer Before Passing Away: Football coach Butch Pedersen was diagnosed with a blood cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome in 2022. ((ngnews247.com)) He entered hospice care last week, ((mdanderson.org)) but it is not clear how long he had been battling cancer before he passed away.

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