The NFL announced the high school football coaches nominated by the 32 NFL teams for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award.
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, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player protection and on-field success.
“There are so many coaches across the country who do such great work with their student-athletes and I am truly honored to be selected for this prestigious award,” said 2018 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year winner Gabe Infante upon receiving his award. “I am grateful to the NFL and the committee for my consideration.”
All Don Shula Award nominees are invited to attend the 2020 Pro Bowl in Orlando, Fla. and will be recognized during the NFL’s week-long celebration of football. Coaches will have VIP access and accommodations at events including Pro Bowl practices and the Play Football High School Skills Showdown, a chance to interact with members of the football community and attend the Pro Bowl.
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 LIV in Miami as guests of the NFL.
The Don Shula Award winner will be announced during the 2020 Pro Bowl, Sunday, Jan. 26 at 3 PM ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, and simulcast on ABC and Disney XD. This marks the third time the game will be available on both broadcast and cable networks. The winner will also be recognized and walk the red carpet at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special the night before Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 1 on FOX.
The Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year winner is selected by a panel of distinguished individuals:
2019 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Nominees | ||
TEAM | COACH | HIGH SCHOOL |
Arizona Cardinals | Jason Mohns | Saguaro High School |
Atlanta Falcons | Matt Land | Dalton High School |
Baltimore Ravens | Justin Payne | Parkville High School |
Buffalo Bills | Bobby Bates | McQuaid Jesuit |
Carolina Panthers | Jamie Nickles | Abbeville High School |
Chicago Bears | Mike Noll | Richmond-Burton High School |
Cincinnati Bengals | Pat McLaughlin | LaSalle High School |
Cleveland Browns | Steve Trivisonno | Mentor High School |
Dallas Cowboys | George Teague | John Paul II High School |
Denver Broncos | Rob Busmente | Sterling High School |
Detroit Lions | Jim Ahern | Lansing Catholic High School |
Green Bay Packers | Mike Minick | DeForest High School |
Houston Texans | Todd McVey | Tompkins High School |
Indianapolis Colts | Kyle Ralph | New Palestine High School |
Jacksonville Jaguars | Damenyum Springs | Fleming Island High School |
Kansas City Chiefs | William Lowe | Lincoln College Prep |
Los Angeles Chargers | Mil'von James | Inglewood High School |
Los Angeles Rams | Paul Knox | George Washington Prep |
Miami Dolphins | Eddie Frasier | Dillard High School |
Minnesota Vikings | Lambert Brown | Wayzata High School |
New England Patriots | Andrew MacKay | Ashland High School |
New Orleans Saints | Robert Valdez | St. James High School |
New York Giants | Barris Grant | Hillside High School |
New York Jets | Nga Warren | Samuel J. Tilden Educational Campus |
Philadelphia Eagles | Dwayne Savage | Camden High School |
Pittsburgh Steelers | Bill Cherpak | Thomas Jefferson High School |
Raiders | Rich Muraco | Liberty High School |
San Francisco 49ers | Mike Machado | Valley Christian High School |
Seattle Seahawks | Bill Beattie | Tumwater High School |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TaVaris Johnson | Lake Wales Charter High School |
Tennessee Titans | Shawn Witten | Elizabethton High School |
Washington Redskins | Joe Jones | Ocean Lakes High School |