The Kansas City Chiefs have announced their Coach of the Week honors for the ninth week of the season. The awards go to Clinton head football coach Cody Carlson (Missouri) and Olathe South head football coach Ron Litchfield (Kansas).
As a result of this honor, both schools will receive a $500 grant from the Hunt Family Foundation. 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.
After sitting out of the varsity football season in 2021, Clinton fielded a varsity team in 2022 and defeated Buffalo 37-34 Friday night to earn its first postseason win since 2016. Carlson said this was a big moment for the entire program.
“What a great honor this is for our entire program,” Carlson said. “Thank you to our assistant coaches, administrators, community, and families. This award is a testament to all of their hard work and dedication to make this program something the community of Clinton can be proud of. Most importantly, thank you to these players for staying the course and blocking out all the outside noise. It has not been an easy road for them, but we have learned so many life lessons along the way. I believe this District Playoff win has the potential to propel our program to the next level moving forward. Thank you also to PrepsKC for all that you do to cover high school football. Lastly, thank you to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Hunt Family Foundation. I am so proud of this football program.”
Olathe South rallied to beat Blue Valley North 26-23 moving their record to 7-2 and advancing them to the second round of the Kansas Class 6A playoffs. The Falcons’ victory total this year is the most since 2013 and Litchfield said he couldn’t be prouder of his program.
“It is a great honor for our players and coaches,” Litchfield said. “I have an excellent coaching staff and awesome players to work with, this award was earned by all of us.”
In its 26th season, the 2022 High School Coach of the Week 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 13 years 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.
The above story is from the Kansas City Chiefs
2023 Kansas City Chiefs HS Coaches of the Week Winners
Week 8 – William Harris, Raytown South HS (Missouri) and Jon Holmes, Bishop Miege HS (Kansas)
Week 7 – Jamar Mozee, Lee’s Summit North HS (Missouri) and Brian King, De Soto HS (Kansas)
Week 6 – Jared Quigley, North Platte HS (Missouri) and Courtney Porter, Olathe East HS (Missouri)
Week 5 – Kelly Donohoe, Rockhurst (Missouri) and Kevin Stewart, Lawrence Free State (Kansas)
Week 4 – Willie Horn, Lee’s Summit West HS (Missouri) and Jesse Owen, Gardner-Edgerton HS (Kansas)
Week 3 – Regi Trotter, St. Joseph Central HS (Missouri) and Camron Smith, Washington HS (Kansas)
Week 2 – Roshaad Byrd, Van Horn HS (Missouri) and Drew Harding, Louisburg HS (Kansas)
Week 1 – Bill Utz, Platte County HS (Missouri) and Anthony Orrick, Blue Valley Southwest HS (Kansas)
