Valparaiso Head Football Coach Mark Hoffman has been named the Colts/NFL Coach of the Week, a program presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Hoffman was selected after his Vikings defeated conference rival Merrillvlle 34-21 Friday night. Valparaiso is off to their first 7-0 start since 1976.
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 Vikings are 7-0 for the first time since 1976 as they won at Merrillville 34-21 on Friday. The win for Valparaiso ended the Pirates' 13-game winning streak in the Duneland Athletic Conference. The Vikings have now defeated six teams ranked in the top fifteen this season. In Friday's game versus 7th ranked Merrillville, junior Bryon Duncan rushed 25 times for 138 yards and scored two touchdowns and Andrew Kittridge rushed 20 times for 123 yards and scored once to lead the Vikings. The Vikings has won nine straight regular season games.
Hoffman is in his 34th season with the Vikings. In that time, he's been honored with many awards, Colts Coach of the Week selections in 2000, 2005 and 2008, as well as the 2010 NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) Coach of the Year Nominee by IFCA (Indiana Football Coaches Association), and selected as the 5A coach of the year in 1985, 86, 89, 91, 97, 2000 and 2001. This goes to show the long standing impact that Coach Hoffman has had on Valparaiso High School.
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 the NFL Youth Football Fund. In addition, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will contribute $1,000 for the school's athletic fund.
The following coaches were recognized as honorable mentions for Week 7:
Region 1- Winner Region 6– Charlie German, North Montogmery
Region 2 – Reggie Glon, Mishawaka Marian Region 7- Rick Streiff, Cathedral
Region 3 – Mike Mosser, Adams Central Region 8- John Fallis, Hagerstown
Region 4 – Mike Johnson, Pioneer Region 9 – Andy Owen, Evansville Central
Region 5 – Jason Simmons, Hamilton Heights Region 10- Darin Ward, Corydon Central
For more information, please contact Casey Bolsega of the Indianapolis Colts at (317) 808-5149. Mark Hoffman is also available for questions/comments at (219) 531-3070.
