Detroit MLK’s Tyrone Spencer named 2022 Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Year

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The Detroit Lions have named Tyrone Spencer of Detroit Martin Luther King Jr. High School the 2022 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year. Spencer’s Crusaders defeated the Muskegon Big Reds 56-27 to win the MHSAA Division 3 state championship, their 2nd Division 3 state championship in a row. The Crusaders, from the Detroit Public School League, finished the season 10-3, outscoring their opponents 503-224.

Spencer concluded his 13th year coaching high school football and 7th season overall as a head coach at King, compiling a 75-17 (81.5%) record.  As head coach, Spencer has won 4 MHSAA State Championships—a Division 2 State Championship in 2016 and Division 3 State Championships in 2018, 2021 and 2022.  He also led the Crusaders to a state runner up appearance in 2019, a state semi-finals appearance in 2017 and a regional finals appearance in 2020.  Overall, Spencer has a 30-3 (90.9%) playoff record.  Spencer, a 2003 King graduate, spent 5 years as an assistant coach at King prior taking over as head coach of the Crusaders, also winning a MHSAA Division 2 State Championship in 2015. 

Spencer was notified of his Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year selection on Head Coach Hangout.

See his reaction and the entire interview by visiting www.DetroitLions.com/coachoftheyear.

High School Football Coach of the Week/Year Program

Each week throughout the 2022 high school football regular season, one coach that best demonstrates success on and off the field, develops players’ character, discipline, and football skill in addition to emphasizing player health and safety in their program, is recognized for his commitment to the team, school, and community.  Each Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week during the regular season received a $1,000 donation to his school’s football program. 

For his 2022 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year award, Spencer was selected by a panel of high school football media members—Mick McCabe (Detroit Free Press), Hugh Bernreuter (Saginaw News), Bret Bakita (WOOD Radio-106.9 FM, 96.1 FM- The Game, Fox 17/Grand Rapids),James Cook (Traverse City Record-Eagle) and Scott DeCamp (CatchMark SportsNet) and one vote from the public online voting at DetroitLions.com.  Spencer will receive a $3,000 donation to his school’s football program and will be honored as the Detroit Lions nominee for the Don Shula NFL High School Football Coach of the Year.  

Concluding its’ 26th year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week/Year program awarded $12,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan, while the overall program has awarded $491,000 to high school football programs throughout the state of Michigan. 

All-Time Coach of the Year recipients:

1997John Herrington, Farmington Hills Harrison, 1998Thomas Mach, Detroit Catholic Central, 1999Don Durrett, Saginaw, 2000Herb Brogan, Jackson Lumen Christi, 2001John Schwartz, Mendon, 2002Mike Boyd, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 2003Scot Shaw, Three Rivers, 2004Noel Dean, Lowell, 2005Jack Pratt, Flint Powers,2006Tony Annese, Muskegon, 2007Jim Reynolds, Detroit Martin Luther King, 2008Peter Stuursma. East Grand Rapids, 2009Rich Hulkow, Marshall, 2010Chris Bell, Lake Orion, 2011Thomas Wilcher, Detroit Cass Tech, 2012Terry Hessbrook, Ithaca, 2013Kurt Richardson, Clarkston, 2014Dan Rohn, Grand Rapids West Catholic, 2015John Shillito, Zeeland West, 2016Elliot Uzelac, Benton Harbor, 2017Mike Giannone, Warren De La Salle, 2018Rick Bailey, Reading, 2019Jim Ahern, Lansing Catholic, 2020Rob Zimmerman, DeWitt, 2021Josh Lucas, Chelsea, 2022Tyrone Spencer, Detroit Martin Luther King

The above story is from the Detroit Lions

2022 Detroit Lions Coach of the Week Winners

Week 8 – Brian Lemons, Brighton HS

Week 7 – Tim Rogers, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central HS

Week 6 – Ian Iler, Redford Union HS

Week 5 – Adam Pratley, St. Joseph HS

Week 4 – Chris Kelbert, Livonia Franklin HS

Week 3 – Karl Schmugge, Michigan Lutheran Seminary

Week 2 – Phil Jacobs, Dexter HS

Week 1 – Tony Sigmon, Whitehall HS

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.