DeForest football coach Mike Minick was nominated by the Green Bay Packers for the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, the NFL announced Thursday.
All 32 teams were able to nominate one head coach for the annual award. One previous Packers nominee, Bruce Larson from Somerset, won the award in 2014.
From the press release:
The NFL announced today the high school football coaches nominated by the 32 NFL teams for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award, representing the best at the high school level.
These coaches were recognized by their local NFL club for the prestigious award – named after Pro Football Hall of Famer DON SHULA, the winningest coach in NFL history – for their character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.
"There are so many coaches across the country who do such great work with their student athletes and I am truly honored to be selected for this prestigious award," said 2018 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year winner GABE INFANTE upon receiving his award. "I am grateful to the NFL and the committee for my consideration."
All Don Shula Award nominees are invited to attend the 2020 Pro Bowl in Orlando, FL and will be recognized in special ways during the NFL's week-long celebration of football. Throughout the week, coaches will receive VIP access and accommodations at various events such as Pro Bowl practices and the Play Football High School Skills Showdown, a chance to interact and engage with various members of the football community and attend the Pro Bowl. Each coach will also have an opportunity to invite a senior on their roster to participate in the Skills Showdown to represent their high school football community.
Two finalists will each receive $15,000 from the NFL Foundation, $10,000 of which will go to their high school's football program. They will also attend Super Bowl LIV in Miami as special guests of the NFL.
The Don Shula Award winner will be announced during the 2020 Pro Bowl, airing Sunday, Jan. 26 at 3 PM ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, and simulcast on ABC and Disney XD – the third time the game will be available on both broadcast and cable networks. The winner will also be recognized and walk the red carpet at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on Saturday, Feb. 1 on FOX, the night before Super Bowl LIV.
The Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year winner is selected by a panel of distinguished individuals:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame President DAVID BAKER
- Former Dallas Cowboys Personnel Director and NFL.com contributor GIL BRANDT
- Super Bowl XLIV winner and NFL Legends Youth Advisory Committee Member MARK BRUNELL
- Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and current NBC analyst TONY DUNGY
- Executive Director of USA Football SCOTT HALLENBECK
- 3-time Super Bowl Champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) and NFL Legends Youth Advisory Committee Member WILLIE MCGINEST
- 2x AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year, current head coach at the Sayre School (Lexington, Kentucky) and NFL Legends Youth Advisory Committee Member CHAD PENNINGTON
- Pro Football Hall of Famer, Coach DON SHULA – the winningest coach in NFL history