FNF Coaches of the Year
Annually Recognizing America’s Top High School Coaches
FNF Coaches understands the commitment and sacrifice that goes into leading a football team.
In our annual Coaches of the Year edition we honor 50-plus coaches who lead their respective teams to the ultimate prize – a state championship.
The FNF Coaches of the Year program is not a popularity contest. We will recognize coaches who went above and beyond to help deliver a state title to their community.
Past Coaches of the Year
Previous Winners
Alabama, Patrick Browning, Pike Road
Alaska, Luke Balash, Lathrop
Arizona, Jason Mohns, Scottsdale Saguaro
Arkansas, Chris Kennon, McCory
California , Sean Doyle, Cathedral Catholic
Colorado, Bret McGatlin, Chatfield
Connecticut, Chad Neal, Killingly
Delaware, John Bellace, Archmere Academy
Florida 8A, Matthew Thompson, Jesuit
Georgia, Lenny Gregory, Collins HIll
Hawaii, Sterling Carvalho, Kahuku
Idaho, Armando Gonzalez, Rigby
Illinois, Jeff Boyer, Byron
Indiana, Eric Moore, Center Grove
Iowa, Todd Bladt, Harlan
Kansas, Clint Rider, Blue Valley Northwest
Kentucky, Kevin Wallace, St. Xavier
Louisiana, Wayne Stein, St. Charles Catholic
Maine, Sean Green, Cape Elizabeth
Maryland, Patrick Nixon, Mergenthaler – Mervo
Massachusetts, Pete Afanasiw, Cohasset
Michigan, Josh Lucas, Chelsea
Minnesota, Dean Aurich, Mayer Lutheran
Mississippi, Toby Collums, Madison Central
Missouri, Scott Pingel, Christian Brothers College
Montana, Bryce Carver, Hamilton
Nebraska, Mike Kayl, Gretna
Nevada, Andy Ostolaza, Silverado
New Hampshire, Kevin Fitzgerald, Timberlane
New Jersey, Frank DeLano, Haddonfield
New Mexico, Greg Henington, Los Lunas
New York, Casey Brown, Christian Brothers Academy
North Carolina, Steven Wright, Cardinal Gibbons
North Dakota, Jeremy Newton, West Fargo Sheyenne
Ohio, Mitch Hewitt, Chardon
Oklahoma, Kevin Jones, Collinsville
Oregon, Josh Craig, Silverton
Pennsylvania, Bob Palko, Mt Lebanon
Rhode Island, Keith Croft, Bishop Hendricken
South Carolina, Adam Holmes, Gray Collegiate
South Dakota, Brandon White, Harrisburg
Tennessee, Gary Rankin, Alcoa
Texas, B.J. Gotte, Katy Paetow
Utah, Bart Brockbank, Lone Peak
Vermont, Marty RIchards, Essex
Virginia, Marcus Lewis, Varina
Washington (state), Eric Kurle, GRAHAM KAPOWSIN
West Virginia, Britt Sherman, Martinsburg
Wisconsin, Bill Young, Catholic Memorial (Waukesha)
Wyoming, Jeff Mowry, Sheridan
AL, Travis Lockett, Linden
AK, Robbie Nash, Colony
AZ, Brent Barnes, Chaparral
AR, Jeff Conaway, Shiloh Christian
CO, David Vogt, Durango
DE, John Wells, Sussex Central
FL, Eric Lodge, Seminole Sanford Orlando
GA, Alan Chadwick, Marist
ID, Brennan Jones, Oakley
IN, Eric Moore, Center Grove
IO, Rick Nelson, Ankeny
KS, Tom Radke, St. James Academy
KN, Tony Love, Ashland Blazer
LA, Tony Courville, Carencro
MN, Kevin Feeney, Moorhead
MI, Drew Causey, Oak Grove (Hattiesburg)
MO, Brent Eckley, Jackson
MT, Mike Ludwig, Laurel
NE, Brett Froendt, Omaha Westside
NH, Robin Bowkett, Souhegan
NJ, Tony Grandinetti, Wall
ND, Dan Smekar, Bismarck St. Mary’s
OH, Keith Recker, Van Wert
OK, Josh Been, Dewar
PA, Mark Lyons, Central Valley
SC, Dustin Curtis, AC Flora
SD, Trent Olson, Winner
TN, Brian Coleman, Summit
TX, Matt Fanning, Jim Ned
UT, Mike Bowring, Juab
WV, Donnie Mays, South Charleston
WI, Jake Wolter, Whitefish Bay
WY, Mark Bullington, Southeast
AK, Walter Harmon, Anchorage’s South High School
AL, Mark Freeman, Thompson
AR, Mark Kelley, Searcy
AZ, Mark Smith, Liberty (Peoria)
CA, Kelly King, Milpitas
CO, Rob Busmente, Sterling
CT, Bobby Pattison, Newtown High
DE, Frank Moffett Jr., Hodgson
FL, Mike Coe, Madison County
GA, Richard Morgan, Marietta
HI, Kaeo Drummundo, Hilo
IA, Larry Allen, Ida Grove
ID, Sherm Blaser, Kuna
IL, Aaron Kunz, Williamsville
IN, John Hebert, Carmel
KS, Joel Applebee, Mill Valley
KY, Jim Matney, Johnson Central (Paintsville)
LA, Stanley Smith, Ferriday
MA, Andrew MacKay, Ashland
MD, Doug Williams, Cacoctin
ME, Mike Hathaway, Leavitt
MI, Jake Weingartz, Davison
MN, Chad Gimbel, Blooming Prairie
MO, Robert Steeples, De Smet
MS, Todd Lowery, Corinth
MT, Wyatt Colvin, Jordan
NC, Glenwood Ferebee, Vance
ND, Jack Biesterfeld, Kidder County
NE, Joe Anderson, Oakland-Craig
NH, Jimmy Lauzon, Londonderry
NJ, Roger Kotlarz, Wayne Valley
NM, Caleb King, Melrose
NV, Rich Muraco, Liberty
NY, Nick Lombardo, Lindenhurst
OH, Jeff Graham, Trotwood-Madison
OK, Greg Werner, Poteau
OR, Rich McIlvoil, La Grande
PA, Randy Spencer, Wyoming Area
RI, Blake Simpson, Pilgrim
SC, Stewart Young, Saluda
SD, Jeff VanLeur, Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan
TN, Shawn Witten, Elizabethton
TX, Todd Dodge, Austin Westlake
UT, Chris Howell, Sky View
VA, Gerry Pannoni, South County
VT, Dave Capman, Poultney
WA, Mason Saade, Onalaska
WI, Mike Minick, DeForest
WV, John Cole, Bridgeport
WY, Brent Walk, Mountain View
AL, Mark Freeman, Thompson
AR, Mark Kelley, Searcy
AZ, Mark Smith, Liberty (Peoria)
CA, Kelly King, Milpitas
CO, Rob Busmente, Sterling
CT, Bobby Pattison, Newtown High
DE, Frank Moffett Jr., Hodgson
FL, Mike Coe, Madison County
GA, Richard Morgan, Marietta
HI, Kaeo Drummundo, Hilo
IA, Larry Allen, Ida Grove
ID, Sherm Blaser, Kuna
IL, Aaron Kunz, Williamsville
IN, John Hebert, Carmel
KS, Joel Applebee, Mill Valley
KY, Jim Matney, Johnson Central (Paintsville)
LA, Stanley Smith, Ferriday
MA, Andrew MacKay, Ashland
MD, Doug Williams, Cacoctin
ME, Mike Hathaway, Leavitt
MI, Jake Weingartz, Davison
MN, Chad Gimbel, Blooming Prairie
MO, Robert Steeples, De Smet
MS, Todd Lowery, Corinth
MT, Wyatt Colvin, Jordan
NC, Glenwood Ferebee, Vance
ND, Jack Biesterfeld, Kidder County
NE, Joe Anderson, Oakland-Craig
NH, Jimmy Lauzon, Londonderry
NJ, Roger Kotlarz, Wayne Valley
NM, Caleb King, Melrose
NV, Rich Muraco, Liberty
NY, Nick Lombardo, Lindenhurst
OH, Jeff Graham, Trotwood-Madison
OK, Greg Werner, Poteau
OR, Rich McIlvoil, La Grande
PA, Randy Spencer, Wyoming Area
RI, Blake Simpson, Pilgrim
SC, Stewart Young, Saluda
SD, Jeff VanLeur, Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan
TN, Shawn Witten, Elizabethton
TX, Todd Dodge, Austin Westlake
UT, Chris Howell, Sky View
VA, Gerry Pannoni, South County
VT, Dave Capman, Poultney
WA, Mason Saade, Onalaska
WI, Mike Minick, DeForest
WV, John Cole, Bridgeport
WY, Brent Walk, Mountain View
AK, East, Jeff Trotter
AZ, Williams Field, Steve Campbell
AR, Mount Ida, Mike White
CA, San Clemente, Jaime Ortiz
CO, Strasburg, Jeff Giger
CT, Hillhouse, Reggie Lytle
DE, Woodbridge, Ed Manlove
FL, St. Thomas Aquinas, Roger Harriott
FL, Trinity Christian, Verlon Dorminey
GA, Valdosta, Alan Rodemaker
HI, Lahainaluna, Garet Tihada and Bobby Watson (Co-Head Coaches)
ID, Mountain View, Judd Benedick
IL, Peoria High, Tim Thornton
IN, Roncalli, Bruce Scifres
IA, Dowling Catholic, Tom Wilson
IA, Westrern Christian, Travis Kooima
KS, Pratt High, Jamie Cruce
KY, Christian Academy, Stefan LeFors
LA, Logansport, Kevin Magee
ME, Brunswick, Dan Cooper
MD, Walkersville, Joe Polce
MA, Hanover, Christopher Landolfi
MA, King Phillip, Brian Lee
MI, Pewamo Westphalia, Jeremy Miller
MN, Minneapolis North, Charles Adams
MS, Clinton, Judd Boswell
MO, Harrisonville, Brent Maxwell
MT, Billings Senior, Chris Murdock
NE, Bellevue West, Mike Huffman
NV, Spring Mountain, Aaron Masden
NH, Bedford High, Derek Stank
NM, St. Pius X, San Juan Mendoza
NY, Allentown, Jay Graber
NY, Somers, Tony DeMatteo
NY, Lancaster, Eric Rupp
NC, Eastern Guilford, Doug Robertson
ND, Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm, Jon Schiele
OH, Marion Local, Tim Goodwin
OH, John F. Kennedy, Jay Bayuk
OH, LaSalle, Jim Hilvert
OK, Millwood Darwin, Franklin
OK, Homony, Scott Harmon
OR, Lebanon, Ty Tomlin
PA, Beaver Falls, Ryan Matsook
RI, Portsmouth, Ryan Moniz
SC, Dutch Fork, Tom Knotts
SD, Colman-Egan, Chad Williamson
TN, Farragut, Eddie Courtney
TX, Dallas Highland Park, Randy Allen
UT, Bingham, John Lambourne
VT, Rice, Neil Brodeur
VA, Appomattox, Doug Smith
WA, Camas, Jon Eagle
WA, Graham-Kapowsin, Eric Kurle
WV, St. Marys, Jodi Mote
WI, Green Bay Notre Dame, John Nowak
WI, St. Croix Central, Tony DiSalvo
WY, Pine Bluffs, Will Gray