Evansville Harrison High School Coach Brian Lewis has been named the Colts/NFL Coach of the Week, a program presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Lewis was selected after Evansville Harrison's 3-0 victory last Friday over West Vigo. It was the school's first win in 31 attempts.
The 2010 season marks the eleventh year the Indianapolis Colts will be recognizing outstanding Indiana High School football coaches through the Colts/NFL Coach of the Week program, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
The Evansville Harrison Warriors beat the West Vigo Vikings Friday night, 3-0. The Warriors had not won a game in 31 attempts, and lined up for the victory formation with the clock closing in on 0:00, which Coach Lewis had only done six times prior as the Warriors' head coach. "To see the look on our kids' faces was worth it all," Lewis said. "Then we did something we do after every game and practice. We sang our fight song. You get a much-enhanced sense of pride to sing it after a victory."
The Coach of the Week program was designed to recognize high school coaches who transform, through their hard work and dedication to young people, the best available athletes into high potential football players.
All high school head coaches in the state of Indiana are eligible regardless of their school size, league or division. Coaches are evaluated on various factors including the coach's impact on his team, school and community, as well as performance of the team. The honorees are selected by a panel of high school football media, former athletic directors and other football representatives from all regions of the state.
Each Monday, following a high school football game weekend, one head coach will be recognized and announced. Coach Caldwell will also announce each week's winner in his weekly press conference.
At the conclusion of the high school football season, each winning coach will receive a framed certificate signed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell, Colts President Bill Polian and Colts Youth Football Commissioner Mike Prior, as well as a $1,000 donation from NFL Charities. In addition, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will contribute $1,000 for the school's athletic fund.
Region 1 – Mark Hoffman- Valparaiso Region 6 – Brett Comer- Brownsburg
Region 2 – Joe Szajko- South Bend Clay Region 7 – Bill Peebles- Southport
Region 3 – Matt Lindsay- FW Bishop Luers Region 8 – Kevin Wright- Carmel
Region 4 – Tony Martin- Lafayette Harrison Region 9 – Winner
Region 5 – Beau Engle- Madison Grant Region 10 – Darin Ward- Corydon Central
The following coaches were recognized as honorable mentions for Week 1:
For more information, please contact Casey Bolsega of the Indianapolis Colts at (317) 808-5149. Coach Lewis is also available for questions/comments at (812-630-2736).
