Coach who knocked Wisconsin out of March Madness has unique Packers connection PORTLAND, Ore. – The coach who ended the Wisconsin Badgers’ 2025-26 season in the NCAA Tournament has a personal link to the Green Bay Packers, the NFL team based in Wisconsin. Flynn Clayman, the head coach of High Point University, is the son of Richard Clayman, who created a one-man play about legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi. The play, titled “Vince: The Life & Times Of Vince Lombardi,” premiered in Los Angeles in the 1990s and provided Clayman with early exposure to Lombardi’s legacy. The play’s debut helped shape Clayman’s connection to the Packers. Before the production gained wider attention, Clayman worked behind the scenes, operating the lights during performances. A writer from the Los Angeles Times noticed the play and wrote about it, drawing the interest of Packers legends. Clayman had the opportunity to meet Bart Starr, Willie Davis, and other Hall of Fame players. The experience also led to a performance at the Packers’ Hall of Fame, where the play was staged. Notably, the production was even used to open the Super Bowl once, highlighting its significance to the team’s history. Clayman’s fandom of the Packers began through this connection. Growing up in Los Angeles, he had no local NFL team to follow, so he turned to the Packers. The team’s success during his formative years, including their Super Bowl wins, solidified his loyalty. “They won the Super Bowl right around when I started becoming a fan in New Orleans against the Patriots,” he said. “And I’ve just stayed a fan. That’s my team.” The connection to the Packers also influenced Clayman’s career path. The play about Lombardi sparked his interest in storytelling and leadership, which later translated into his coaching role.#green_bay_packers #los_angeles #ncaa_tournament #high_point_university #vance_lombardi
