Legendary Louisiana high school football coach Jim Hightower of St. Thomas More is the New Orleans Saints’ 2023 High School Coach of the Year. The honor makes Hightower one of 32 finalists for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year.
This past season, Coach Hightower led the Cougars to their second straight Select Division II state championship. With a perfect 14-0 record, STM finished No. 1 in the state and No. 43 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
Hightower owns a 475-134-1 record over a half of century as a high school football coach.
The National Football League will select two Shula Award winners, one from each conference (AFC/NFC). The winners will be honored at the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl LVIII. Nike supports this program by providing the two Don Shula Award winners with $10,000 each, and their high school football programs each with $15,000. Additionally, the other 30 finalists will receive $1,000.
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2023 New Orleans Saints HS Coach of the Week Winners
Week 10 – Clifford Paul, Jeanerette HS
Week 9 –
Week 8 – Broc Prejean, Vermilion Catholic HS
Week 7 – Zephaniah Powell, Amite HS
Week 6 – Tyler Lewis, Terrebonne HS
Week 5 – Scott Wattigny, Holy Cross HS
Week 4 – Wayne Stein, Jr. – St. Charles Catholic HS
Week 3 – Kenneth Bourgeois – Patrick Taylor Science & Tech Academy
Week 2 – Wilford Broussard, Assumption HS
Week 1 – Devin Ducote, West Feliciana HS
