One of Iowa”s prestigious high school football programs, Aplington-Parkersburg High School, has announced the hiring of Zach Pfantz as its new head football coach. The announcement was made via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Pfantz takes over the role from Jeff Pikna.
Pfantz has an extensive coaching background, having previously served as the head coach at schools such as Bondurant-Farrar, Ottumwa, and Akron-Westfield. He also held various positions at Central College and Coe College, where he worked as both a defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator over several seasons. Most recently, Pfantz contributed to the success of Waukee Northwest, assisting the team to a commendable 10-2 record and a spot in the Class 5A Iowa high school football state semifinals this past fall.
Pfantz, a graduate of West Marshall High School, was part of the team that secured an Iowa high school football state championship in 1999 before continuing his football career at Coe College.
Looking ahead, Aplington-Parkersburg aims to turn around its recent performance. Last season, the Falcons finished with a 3-5 record, marking the third consecutive losing season for the program. The last time the team finished with a winning record was in 2022 when they posted an 8-2 mark.
Although dual-threat quarterback Benny Waller has graduated, the Falcons have promising talent returning. Mason Pruisner, who ran for 791 yards and scored nine touchdowns as a sophomore last year, is expected to step up. Classmate Devan Eberhart contributed an additional 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Wes Shirk, another junior, led the receiving corps with nine catches for 199 yards and three touchdowns.
On the defensive side, Aplington-Parkersburg will retain several key players, including Luke Jacobson, Aiden Merrill, Shirk, Eberhart, Cooper Mulder, Maison Copp, and Parker Mulder.
The Falcons have a rich history, having been guided for many years by the late Ed Thomas. During his tenure, Thomas achieved nearly 300 wins, two state championships, and played a crucial role in the development of four players who went on to play in the NFL. Tragically, Thomas was fatally shot in 2009 by a former player.
