NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Every year Titans Owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. and the Tennessee Titans support high school football programs across the state by awarding grants to deserving coaches through the Titans High School Coach of the Week/Year program.
Beginning this year, the Titans Coach of the Year honoree will be automatically nominated for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award as the NFL's top high school coach in the entire country. The Shula winner will be awarded a cash prize of $10,000, a grant for $15,000 for their high school football program, and invited to the Super Bowl where the winner is recognized at a press conference. Also, Don Shula award runner-ups (2) receive a $2,500 cash award and a $5,000 grant for their high school football programs.
Titans High School Coach of the Winners earn $1,000 grants from the Titans Foundation for their football programs. The Titans Coach of the Year winner receives a $2,000 grant. To date, Mr. Adams and the Tennessee Titans Foundation have awarded more than $150,000 to high school football programs statewide in honor of these winning coaches.
In previous years, the winning coaches were determined by the votes of sports writers throughout the state. Each writer determined nominees by the criteria of many different significant factors, which remain in place for the 2013 season.
These significant factors include, beating a longtime rival, snapping a losing streak, defeating a defending champion, and/or an amazing come from behind victory. Also considered, is a coach's attention of his players' safety, by teaching the fundamentals of the game, proper tackling techniques, concussion management practices and adherence to heat and hydration guidelines.
This year, the Titans are extending the opportunity for fans to become a part of the voting process with online voting!
After each football Friday during the Week 1 – 10 high school season, we are asking media members from across the state of Tennessee to nominate a deserving Tennessee High School Coach and to provide a brief summary as to why that coach should be selected as the weekly winner.
The following Monday starting at 2 p.m. CT through 5 p.m. CT Wednesday, online voters will be given the opportunity select the weekly winner from the pool of finalists. The winner will be announced every Thursday.
The Coach of the Week grant is solely for the winning head coaches' high school football programs. Fan votes will help the Titans Foundation provide deserving schools with funds for equipment, turf treatment or upgrades to their field house. A head coach can be nominated multiple times for the weekly award but can win the Coach of the Week award only once. A Titans High School Coach of the Week winner is also eligible for Coach of the Year honors but is not automatically a finalist for the Coach of the Year. All Tennessee high school coaches are also eligible to be considered for Titans Coach of the Year.
