Coach Lamar Brown of Knoxville West High School has been named 2022 Tennessee Titans High School Coach of the Year after leading his football team to a perfect 15-0 season for the first time in the school's history. The team also ended the season by winning the Class 5A Tennessee State Championship.
"Coach Brown exemplifies everything we look for in a Coach of the Year winner – integrity, passion and grit. His work at West High School extends far past winning a state championship as he continues to build a reputation for growing and fostering the highest level of character in these young men," said Josh Corey, Titans Director of Marketing, Youth & Community Engagement. "We know high school coaches have the influence to impact young athletes in the most profound of ways, and Coach Brown is a shining example of that effort coming to fruition."
Coach Brown has a 61-19 overall record through his six seasons at West High School and has won three consecutive region championships. This season alone, West High School defeated two of its greatest competitors, eight-time defending Class 3A state champion Alcoa High School and Class 6A semifinalist Maryville High School during the regular season. This state title represents the second in West High School history and first since 2014.
As the 2022 Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year, Brown received a grant in the amount of $2,500 from the Titans and a $1,000 personal award from the NFL, to benefit his football program.
"There is no one more deserving of his honor than Coach Brown. He continues to build our football program the right way – with character at the forefront of every decision," said West High School Principal, Dr. Ashley Speas. "He is a terrific football coach, but his influence runs much deeper as he develops these young men with a love of their school and tremendous pride in their community. He truly has a heart of gold and we are lucky to have him."
This honor also qualifies Coach Brown for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award, honoring high school football coaches that display integrity, achievement and leadership exemplified by the coach with the most wins in NFL history, Don Shula. The Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award winner – announced in January – receives grant prizes over $25,000 for personal and football program use.
The Tennessee Titans High School Coach of the Year award is an extension of the High School Game of the Week and Coach of the Week programs. Each Coach of the Week (10 total) received a grant from the Titans in the amount of $1,500 to benefit each high school's football program. All 11 award winners – 10 Coach of the Week winners and Coach of the Year – were recognized at Nissan Stadium during the Titans vs. Jaguars game on Sunday, Dec. 11.
For more information on the Tennessee Titans High School Game of the Week or Coach of the Week programs, visit www.tennesseetitans.com/gameoftheweek.
Previous Coach of the Year award winners:
- 1999 - Jim Wilson, Glencliff High School
- 2000 - Tom Weathers, Red Bank High School
- 2001 - Ralph Potter, McCallie High School
- 2002 - Robert Lassiter, Gallatin High School
- 2003 - Jeff Morris, Milan High School
- 2004 - Buck Coatney, Knoxville Fulton High School
- 2005 - George Quarles, Maryville High School
- 2006 - Philip Shadowens, Smyrna High School
- 2007 - Ralph Thompson, Maplewood High School
- 2008 - Scott Blade, Hillsboro High School
- 2009 - Anthony Crabtree, Beech High School
- 2010 - Gary Rankin, Alcoa High School
- 2011 - James Counce, Henry County High
- 2012 - Rodney Saulsberry, Whitehaven High School
- 2013 - Darren Bowling, Union City High School
- 2014 - Ingle Martin, Christ Presbyterian Academy
- 2015 - Scott Blade, Independence High School
- 2016 - Rodney Saulsberry, Whitehaven High School
- 2017 - Cody White, Brentwood Academy
- 2018 - Kevin Creasy, Oakland High School
- 2019 - Shawn Witten, Elizabethton High School
- 2020 - Keith Henry, Coalfield High School
- 2021 - John Olive, Tullahoma High School
2022 Coaches of the Week
- Chuck Gentry - Lebanon High School
- Marty Euverard - Montgomery Bell Academy
- Eric Swenson - Huntingdon High School
- Jeremy Jenkins - Daniel Boone High School
- Kyle Shoulders - Macon County High School
- James Counce Jr. - Henry County High School
- Paul Derrick - Nolensville High School
- Daniel Johnson - Fayetteville High School
- Lance Tucker - Bartlett High School
- Matt Dyer - Smith County High School
