This is reprinted from December 13th, 2024

“Do Your Job” was a common refrain heard in the Southern Door Auditorium on Thursday afternoon as Southern Door High School head football and track coach Scott Mallien was honored for doing his. Mallien received the Semper Fi Coach Award from the United States Marine Corps during a special assembly after being nominated by athletic director Ben Kline.

He was celebrated for not just his nearly 40-year coaching career, which includes a 2015 state title, but the character-building and accountability he fostered in his student-athletes. The U.S. Navy veteran was saluted by students during the ceremony, even catching a stray “Go Army, Beat Navy” ahead of the academies’ annual football game this weekend. Mallien is proud of the connections he has forged during his career that led to Thursday’s announcement.

In addition to coaching sports and teaching history, Mallien is an advisor for the school’s SAIL leadership program.