The Kansas City Chiefs have announced their first Coach of the Week honors for the 2019 season. The awards go to Center coach Bryan DeLong and Blue Valley West coach Josh Koerkenmeier.
As a result of this honor, both schools will receive a $500 player health and safety grant from the Hunt Family Foundation. Each school will also receive a Gatorade Sideline Kit, including coolers, bottles and Gatorade products. Additionally, both coaches will be presented congratulatory footballs autographed by Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid and a certificate recognizing their selection.
Both coaches are now qualified for the Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award, which will be voted on later this fall. The Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award is selected by a panel comprised of the Missouri and Kansas Boards from the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association. One coach will be selected from the pool of weekly winners and will be honored at the 2020 Pro Bowl as the Eric Driskell Coach of the Year.
Center beat St. Joseph Lafayette 35-21 to move to 2-0 on the season.
"We are extremely honored to be recognized by such a class organization as the Kansas City Chiefs," DeLong said. "They have set the bar when it comes to class and winning. A truly humbling experience for the Yellowjackets."
Blue Valley West opened its season with a 28-21 win over Mill Valley, scoring all 28 points in the fourth quarter. Koerkenmeier said this is an honor for the whole program.
"This means a lot to the Blue Valley West Football program," Koerkenmeier said. "Our goal is to get better every day. This group of players and coaches has been working incredibly hard to put themselves in a position to be successful. This award is a reflection of their time, effort and attitude."
In its 23rd season, the 2019 High School Coach of the Week Fueled by Gatorade is a joint initiative of the Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football League. This program is designed to recognize and reward Kansas City area high school coaches for superior performance on a weekly basis while honoring individuals who are shaping today's youth and tomorrow's leaders.
The Kansas City Chiefs partner with PrepsKC to select Coaches of the Week from Missouri and Kansas each week. PrepsKC is the only complete multimedia coverage of high school football in the Kansas City Metro. For the last 10 seasons it has combined a dynamic web site, weekly magazine and comprehensive weekly radio show. More information about PrepsKC, including scores, schedules and coverage can be found at www.prepskc.com.
