Chicago Bears name Bob Moynihan of Harlem HS as its 2020-21 High School Coach of the Year

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Bob Moynihan of Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Illinois is the 2020-21 Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Year brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy. Moynihan is now the Bears’ nominee for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award. The Bears will make a $2,000 donation to the Harlem football program.

Related: Moynihan named Chicago Bears Week 5 Coach of the Week

“It’s very special,” said Moynihan. “It shows what these kids have done and how hard they’ve worked and it’s a testament to them. They did all the right things in a very difficult situation. I think, as coaches, we more guide our students and athletes to do what they’re supposed to do. It’s not about us, it’s about them.”

Moynihan, who joined Harlem in 2019 after serving as Zion-Benton High School’s head coach, led the team to 6-0 record and won the NIC-10 Conference Championship for the first time since 1997. He was also named the “Coach of the Week” in Week 5; Harlem’s quarterback, James Cooper Jr., was named the “High School All-Star” for Week 2 as well.

Like all coaches, Moynihan had to face the many challenges that COVID-19 protocols presented, including rescheduling opponents on short notice. Harlem finished the season at No. 3 in the AP Class 7A poll. Previously, Moynihan was on the coaching staff at St. Viator, North Chicago and Proviso East; he is a St. Viator graduate and played football at Southeast Missouri State.

“Coach Mo means everything to me!,” said Cooper Jr. “He came in here and helped change the culture of our program to what I always thought it could be. He always believed me and us, and when the game was on the line, he always put the ball in my hands and thought we could win. Great coach, and even better person.”

Chicago Bears News Release

The Chicago Bears “Coach of the Week” program was launched in 1996. The “Coach of the Week” program honors outstanding Illinois high school coaches who develop players’ football skills and knowledge, character, leadership, discipline and teamwork abilities.

Below are the six Coaches of the Week for the Spring 2021 high school football season in Illinois.

Spring 2021 Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Week Award winners

Week 6 – Jose Medina, LaSalle-Peru

Week 5 – Bob Moynihan, Harlem

Week 4 – Byron Gettis, O’Fallon

Week 3 – Jon McLaughlin, Crystal Lake Central

Week 2 – John Rone, Alan B. Shepard

Week 1 – Matt Purdy, Glenbrook North

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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.