2008 All Star Coach West
1st Assistant Matt Stapleton
Frankfort High School
Coach Stapleton graduated from Benzie Central HS in 1990 and Kalamazoo College in 1994, where he played both football and baseball. Matt started his career at Cadillac High School. He taught social studies and physical education and coached varsity football, JV baseball, and freshman basketball. Four years later he took a teachng and coaching job at Frankfort. Coach Stapleton took over as athletic director and administrative assistant in 2000, and in 2005, he became the principal at Frankfort High School.
Matt has been the head football coach at Frankfort for 10 years and has also coached JV and Freshman basketball. He has a record of 84-31 as the coach of the Panthers and his teams have won six district championships, including the last five in a row. Coach Stapleton’s teams have also won two conference titles, and one regional championship. He was awarded the MHSFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 01 and 04.
Coach Stapleton has been married to Kelli for 11 years and they have three children, McEwen, 10, Isabelle, 8, and Ainsley, 7. Matt said, “I have an extremely supportive wife and family that make many sacrifices to allow me to coach.” He has five brothers and sisters who come to games to support the program and he is grateful to his mother and father for their important roles in his life. Coach Stapleton’s father, Thomas, was the head coach at Pontiac Catholic and is a member of the MHSFCA’s Hall of Fame.
Matt credits the success to the 107 years of Frankfort Football tradition, a supportive community, and to extremely hard working and committed coaches and players. “I have been fortunate to work with some outstanding coaches that are not only good teachers, but also good men that genuinely care about our kids.” One of his assistants, Michael Pratley, has been with the program 30 years and is a member of the MHSFCA’s Hall of Fame. “Over the years, I have benefited tremendously from every player and every coach that has had a role in our program. It has been an honor and a privilege to coach outstanding young men and to coach at Frankfort High School”.
“What an honor to be selected to coach in the 2008 All-Star game. I thank the association for this honor. I look forward to working with some of the best coaches and best players in the state.”