NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans announced Monday that James "Bubba" Spears of Nashville's Hillwood High School has been named as the Titans High School Football Coach of the Weekfor Week 3. The Hillwood Toppers defeated favored Father Ryan 13-10 on the strength of a great defensive effort to claim Hillwood's first victory over Father Ryan since 1991.
"Coach Spears is doing an excellent job," said Dr. Steve Chauncy, executive principal of Hillwood High School. "He has been here for three years, and this has to be his most significant victory."
Team owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. will make a $1,000 contribution from the Titans Foundation to the Hillwood High School football program in Coach Spears' honor.
"High school football enjoys a great tradition in Tennessee," said Adams. "That tradition is based not only on the outstanding quality of play but on the devotion of their coaches who continue to develop high school football players into young men of strong character. I'm very pleased to underwrite this program that recognizes the efforts of so many talented high school coaches across the state!"
Coach Spears will be the team's guest at the Titans' season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 30 when the team honors all 2012 Coach of the Week winners and announces the winner of the 2012 Coach of the Year! Coach Spears is eligible for the Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year award. Mr. Adams will make an additional $2,000 grant to the Titans Coach of the Year winner on that date.
Also receiving strong consideration in this week's poll were Glenn Ryan of Walker Valley High School, whose team defeated Red Bank 33-22 to go 3-0 for the first time in school history, and Gordonsville's Ron Marshall, whose team defeated Trousdale County for the first time since 1988 by a 42-7 margin.
Mr. Adams has awarded more than $152,000 from the Titans Foundation to football programs across the state in honor of the Coach of the Week and Year winners for 13 seasons.
The criteria for selection include the coach's impact on his team, school, community and emphasis on health and safety. A statewide media panel votes each week to determine the weekly winner. All high school football coaches in Tennessee, regardless of their school's size, league, or division, are eligible to be selected each week. The program recognizes high school coaches who transform, through hard work and dedication, student athletes into the best possible football players, scholars and citizens in their community.
