NFL Names High School Football Coach of the Year

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Riverview High School (Sarasota, FL) head football coach John Sprague is the 2010 NFL High School Coach of the Year.

Sprague was nominated by former players David Bass of the San Francisco 49ers and Drew Miller of the St. Louis Rams.

As the 2010 NFL High School Football Coach of the Year, Sprague and a guest will be invited to attend the 2011 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii as a guest of the NFL. Coach Sprague also will receive a check for $5,000, and a $10,000 grant will be awarded to the football program at Riverview.

The NFL High School Football Coach of the Year Award was created in 1995 by the NFL and its teams to honor coaches who profoundly impacted the athletic and personal development of NFL players. This year, more than 50 NFL players nominated the high school football coaches who helped shape them during their teenage years.

Baas congratulated Coach Sprague on the recognition, saying “[He] is very deserving of this award. He has been a mentor for me, bringing me along into my career, and to all the kids he's helped, whether they're in the NFL or not. He really cares about them not only as players but as people too, no matter who they are or where they come from."

Miller added, “This is a great honor for Coach Sprague and is much deserved. I couldn’t be happier for him and the Riverview Rams.”

NFL Names Five Finalist for 2010 High School Coach of the Year Award

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

I like to live by the saying that you shouldn't forget where you came from.

The same can be said for the NFL players, who nominated their high school football coaches for the 2010 NFL High School Football Coach of the Year Award. This year 50 players recognized the coaches who shaped them during their teenage years.

This weekend, the NFL released the names of the five coaches who are finalists for the honor.

Here are the finalists and the NFL players who nominated them:

Rich Albonizio (Greenwich HS - Greenwich, CT) - John Sullivan, Minnesota Vikings
Mark Guandolo (Cypress Bay HS - Hollywood, CA) - Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers
Thom McDaniels (Solon HS - Massillon, OH) - Mario Manningham, NY Giants
Doug Morris (San Lorenzo HS - Felton, CA) - Andy Levitre, Buffalo Bills
John Sprague (Riveriew HS - Sarasota, FL) - David Bass, San Francisco 49ers & Drew Miller, St. Louis Rams

"Our players come from different backgrounds, regions and life experiences," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "The one thing they all have in common is that they received guidance and learned important life lessons from their high school coaches. These five finalists have dedicated their lives to teaching young players how to become leaders both on and off the field, and we congratulate them and all high school coaches for the roles they play in helping develop the leaders of our game."

n his nomination essay, John Sullivan of the Vikings recalled learning his work ethic from Coach Albonizio, writing "Coach taught me that nothing comes without hard work."

The Panthers' Jon Beason noted Coach Guandolo's influence away from the football field. "It's not about making you great football players, but better men, fathers & husbands," he wrote.

Mario Manningham of the Giants learned fortitude from Coach McDaniels. "[He] always told me that 'Only the strong survive,'" wrote Manningham. "I have always carried that mentality with me throughout college and now in my professional career."

Coach Doug Morris inspired the Buffalo Bills' Andy Levitre. "Coach Morris is a great motivator and a great person," he wrote. "He knows how to bring out the best in his students and players."

Both David Baas of the San Francisco 49ers and Drew Miller of the St. Louis Rams nominated their former coach, John Sprague.

Baas remembered that "Coach Sprague always cared about how players were doing in every aspect of their lives."

Miller acknowledged Sprague's role in his development, writing "I wouldn't be where I am today without him. He is a great man who impacts young kids' lives in a positive way."

Each finalist receives a $2,500 cash award and a $5,000 grant for their high school football programs. The winner, announced this week, will attend the 2011 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium as a guest of the NFL and receive a $5,000 cash award and a $10,000 grant for his high school football program. All grants will be awarded by the NFL Youth Football Fund.

Georgia High School Football Coach Named National Coach of the Year

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The National High School Coaches Association has named Greenville (GA) High School's Jeremy Williams as its National High School Coach of the Year.

Williams, who has gained national attention because of his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, led his team to a perfect 10-0 regular season last year before losing in the second round of the Georgia high school football playoffs.

Williams was also featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  Below is the show from Hulu.com.

NFL Names Mission Viejo HS Coach of the Year

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Robert Johnson of Mission Viejo (CA) High School has been named the NFL's High School Football Coach of the Year.

Johnson will receive $5,000 and a trip to the Super Bowl, plus a $10,000 grant from the NFL Youth Football Fund will be awarded to the Mission Viejo program. He was chosen from a pool of nominations from more than 75 NFL players.

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and Seahawks defensive end Nick Reed nominated Johnson. Sanchez played for Johnson, while Reed is from Mission Viejo.

The award was created in 1995 to honor coaches who made a positive impact on the athletic and personal development of NFL players.

Madison's (TX) Ray Seals Named High School Coach of the Year by NFL

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

The National Football League has named Ray Seals of Madison (Houston, TX) High School 2008 High School Football Coach of the Year. Seals, who was one of five finalist for the honor, was nominated by two of his former players, Detroit Lions running back Moran Norris and Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.

More than 60 players recognized the coaches who helped shape them during their high school years. In his essay, Young called a great coach who truly has a passion not only for the sport, but for the community he coaches in, the school and the players Norris praised Seals as a “father figure.”

“Our players come from different backgrounds, regions and life experiences,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The one thing they all have in common is that they received guidance and learned important life lessons from their high school coaches. The five finalists dedicated their lives to teaching young players how to become leaders both on and off the field, and we congratulate them and all high school coaches for the roles they play in helping develop the leaders of our game.”

The other finalists were Danny Cronic of East Coweta (Newnan, GA), who was nominated by Keith Brookings of the Atlanta Falcons and Chris Hanson of the New England Patriots; Rob MacLachlan of Wallaceburg District Secondary School (Ontario, Canada) nominated by Shaun Suisham of the Washington Redskins; Ken Ozee of Sam Houston High School (Arlington, TX) nominated by Mark Clayton of the Baltimore Ravens and Tom Padjen of Thornton Fractional South (Lansing, IL) nominated by Pierre Thomas of the New Orleans Saints.

Each finalist received a $2,500 cash award and a $5,000 grant for their high school football programs. Seals will attend Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay as a guest of the NFL and receive a $5,000 cash award and a $10,000 grant for his high school football program. All grants are awarded by the NFL Youth Football Fund.