NFL
ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR 2018 DON SHULA NFL HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
The NFL announced today
the high school football coaches nominated by the 32 NFL teams for the Don
Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award, representing the best at
the high school level.
These coaches were recognized
by their local NFL club for the prestigious award – named after Pro Football
Hall of Famer Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history – for their
character and integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to
player health and safety and on-field success.
“We are honored to celebrate the 32 Don Shula NFL
High School Coach of the Year nominees, as each embodies the integrity,
commitment and character of Coach Shula,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER
GOODELL. “High school football coaches not only serve as leaders, but as
role models dedicated to shaping the lives of young high school players on and
off the field.”
All Don Shula Award
nominees are invited to attend the 2019 Pro Bowl in Orlando, FL and will be recognized
in special ways during the NFL’s week-long celebration of football. Throughout
the week, coaches will receive VIP access and accommodations at various events
such as Pro Bowl practices, the Play Football High School Skills Showdown and Play
Football Celebrity Flag game; a chance to interact and engage with various
members of the football community; and attend the Pro Bowl. Each coach will
also have an opportunity to invite a senior on their roster to participate in
the Skills Showdown to represent their high school football community.
“It was truly the honor of
a lifetime to be recognized as one of the elite high school coaches in the
nation,” said ROBERT GARRETT, 2017 Don
Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award winner. “As a coach, you never
seek individual recognition or accolades and the priority is always helping
young men to achieve their highest potential, but being nominated for the Don
Shula Coach of the Year Award is special and this year’s nominees should be
proud.”
Two finalists will each
receive $15,000 from the NFL Foundation, $10,000 of which will go to their high
school’s football program. They will also attend Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta as
special guests of the NFL. The Don Shula Award winner will be announced during
the 2019 Pro Bowl, airing Sunday, Jan. 27 at 3 PM ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes,
and simulcast on ABC. The winner will also be recognized and walk the red
carpet at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on
February 2, the eve of Super Bowl LIII, at 9 PM (ET and PT) on CBS.
The Don Shula NFL High
School Coach of the Year winner is selected by a panel of distinguished
individuals:
- Pro
Football Hall of Famer, Coach DON SHULA
– the winningest coach in NFL history
- 2017
Don Shula NFL Coach of the Year Award Winner ROBERT GARRETT
- Pro
Football Hall of Fame President DAVID
BAKER
- Former
Dallas Cowboys Personnel Director and NFL.com contributor GIL BRANDT
- Pro
Football Hall of Fame coach and current NBC analyst TONY DUNGY
- Executive
Director of USA Football SCOTT
HALLENBECK
- 3-time
Super Bowl Champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) WILLIE MCGINEST
- 2x
AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year and current head coach at the Sayre School CHAD PENNINGTON
- Pro
Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl XXXV Champion ROD WOODSON
- Former
Secretary of State CONDOLEEZZA RICE,
Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution and faculty member at
the Stanford Graduate School of Business
- Aplington-Parkersburg
High School Principal AARON THOMAS, son
of the school's late football coach, Ed Thomas
Below is a full list of
the 2018 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year nominees. For more
information on the NFL Foundation, visit nflfoundation.org or follow @NFLFoundation
on Twitter.
NOMINATING TEAM | SCHOOL | COACH |
Arizona
Cardinals | Highland High School | Brock Farrell |
Atlanta
Falcons | Pike County High School | Brad Weber |
Baltimore
Ravens | Glenleg High School | Butch Schaffer |
Buffalo
Bills | Clymer-Sherman-Panama High School | Ty Harper |
Carolina
Panthers | Tarboro High School | Jeff Craddock |
Chicago
Bears | Sacred Heart-Griffin | Ken Leonard |
Cincinnati
Bengals | Wyoming High School | Aaron Hancock |
Cleveland
Browns | Kirtland High School | Tiger Laverde |
Dallas
Cowboys | Duncanville High School | Reginald Samples |
Denver
Broncos | Sedgwick County High School | Chris Michel |
Detroit
Lions | Reading High School | Rick Bailey |
Green
Bay Packers | Muskego High School | Ken Krause |
Houston
Texans | Santa Fe High School | Mark Kanipes |
Indianapolis
Colts | Warren Central | Jayson West |
Jacksonville
Jaguars | Mandarin High School | Bobby Ramsay |
Kansas
City Chiefs | North Kansas City High School | Leon Douglas |
Los
Angeles Chargers | Lawndale High School | Travis Clark |
Los
Angeles Rams | Mater Dei High School | Bruce Rollinson |
Miami
Dolphins | Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School | Aaron Feis |
Minnesota
Vikings | Owatonna Senior High School | Jeff Williams |
New
England Patriots | North Andover High School | John Dubzinski |
New
Orleans Saints | Notre Dame High School | Lewis Cook |
New
York Giants | Hasbrouck Heights High School | Nick Delcalzo |
New
York Jets | Midwood High School | Anthony Odita |
Oakland
Raiders | Canyon Springs High School | Gus McNair |
Philadelphia
Eagles | St. Joseph’s Preparatory School | Gabe Infante |
Pittsburgh
Steelers | Upper St. Clair High School | Jim Render |
San
Francisco 49ers | Liberty High School | Ryan Partridge |
Seattle
Seahawks | Colville High School | Randy Cornwell |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers | Pinellas Park High School | Kenneth Crawford |
Tennessee
Titans | Oakland High School | Kevin Creasy |
Washington
Redskins | Highland Springs High School | Loren Johnson |
About The NFL Foundation: The National Football League Foundation
is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched
by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the
country.
The NFL
Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health, safety and
wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our
game. For more information on The NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org.
About Play Football: Play Football is a year-round
initiative celebrating youth and high school football. Play Football works to
shape the football experience, advocate for safety, promote football values and
connect football communities. For more information, featured football stories,
best practices and resources aimed to create a positive playing experience,
please visit PlayFootball.com or follow @NFLPlayFootball. Join the conversation
on social media using #LetsPlayFootball.
# # #
Contact:
Taylor Kielpinski-Rogers, NFL, Taylor.Kielpinski-Rogers@nfl.com