Team Logo in 2008

Final Team Logo - 2009

Final Helmet Logo-2009

Final Helmet - 2009

The Kilbourn City Hawks was founded 2008 by two former coaches of the Wisconsin States Football
League. When a friend of both of theirs from the league they both were previously part of,  who knew
of Jim’s desire to start up his own team as well as Todd's,  told Todd Dillinder (Owner of the now
defunct Stateline Hawks) to give James Foerster (Offensive Coordinator of the now defunct Summit
Stampeders.) a call. So the two of them met up at the VFW 8483 and the birth of the Hawks began.
 
They brought in several personal to help build the team and their first point of business was what they
were going to call themselves, since in Dane County at the time they decided on the Dane County
Hawks. They chose a color scheme and then went out to try and find a place to play.
Which turned out to be harder then the committee thought. But due the cost and availability factor
they had to move out side of Dane County. The Hawks were lucky enough to get a Corporate Partner
and made Chula Vista’s Wisconsin Dells Center their home field. By picking up several other sponsors
in the area, the team was able to move on and participate in their Inaugural Season.

Now the Hawks had a home field, but the Dane County Hawks name wasn’t going to work. So the
group held many meetings and discussions on what the new name should be. Then it came up with
Kilbourn City. Kilbourn City was the original name for the town that became Wisconsin Dells,
Wisconsin.
 
“Wisconsin Dells was founded as Kilbourn City in 1857 by Byron Kilbourn. Before the establishment
of Kilbourn City, the region around the dells of the Wisconsin River was primarily a lumbering area
until 1851, when the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad was chartered, with Kilbourn as its president.
Gradually, tourism became a large part of Kilbourn City. To make it easier for tourists to identify
Kilbourn City with the natural landscape for which it was famous, the name of the city was changed to
Wisconsin Dells in 1931.”                              
 
The team, like the original town, has gone through many changes. The first year they had many players
and staff members come in and out their door in 2009. 70+ players came and went but 27 of those men
stayed and were committed to the Hawks and their dream. They also went through a couple of coaches
loosing one of them who signed on with a collage in North Dakota. So the coaching staff was that of 3
men. As well as the game day staff consisted of only 5 people.

The team endured many losses that first year but never quit. They played with heart and passion.
They played with every thing they had till the horn sounded indicating the game was over. You never
could tell they were on the loosing end of the game; they truly were a different group of men.

The Mid-States football league agreed that this group of men and the program were indeed different.
For the first time in league history a team received the Sportsmen of the Year Award. Owners and
players of the teams the Hawks played said there wasn’t a more deserving team other than the Hawks.
One player even commented on how “they tried to provoke the Hawks and they took no part of it,
they just wanted to play the game”.

That’s where the Hawks motto PRIDE, DIGNITY, & RESPECT comes in.

2010 looks to be an exciting year as the Hawks have signed more players than last year to help fill the
void. They have picked up some old and new sponsors. As well as adding to their coaching staff,
medical staff, and game day staff.