The Kansas City Chiefs have announced Coach of the Week honors for the fifth week of the season. The awards go to Smithville's Jason Ambroson and Tonganoxie's Al Troyer.
The 2017 High School Coach of the Week fueled by Gatorade program is a joint initiative of the Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football League. This is designed to recognize and reward Kansas City area high school coaches for superior performance on a weekly basis. The Chiefs Coach of the Week award is intended to honor individuals who are shaping today's youth and tomorrow's leaders.
Smithville beat Maryville 42-6 to move to 7-0 and take the lead in the Midland Empire Conference. It was the first time Smithville had beaten the Spoofhounds in more than eight seasons.
"This is a great community honor for our school and program to be recognized by the Kansas City Chiefs," Ambroson said. "I am truly blessed to work every day with amazing young people and motivated adults that consistently work to do right in all they do. We are so fortunate to all spend this journey together and we humbly thank the Kansas City Chiefs for validating our success with this honor."
Troyer's Chieftains topped Lansing 37-3 to move to 5-0. Tonganoxie is currently 3-0 in the Kaw Valley League with a one-game lead on Basehor-Linwood.
"It is an honor to have Tonganoxie High School receive this award from the Kansas City Chiefs," Troyer said. "I am blessed to be at a place where our success leans not on one man, but the combined effort of our coaches, athletes, teachers, administration and community. Thank you to the Kansas City Chiefs and PrepsKC for your continued support for high school football."
As a result of this honor, both schools will receive a $500 player health and safety grant from the Hunt Family Foundation and each school will 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. Ambrosen is now qualified for the Missouri Coach of the Year Award, while Troyer is now qualified for the Eric Driskell Kansas Coach of the Year Award, both of which will be voted on later this fall.
Prior to the 2017 season, the Kansas City Chiefs announced that the Kansas High School Coach of the Year Award would be renamed in memory of Eric Driskell, the former head coach at Blue Valley High School. Driskell was a three-time award recipient during his seven years with the football program and spent 14 years as the head coach of the boys' track and field teams. Driskell suddenly passed away in mid- February.
