It took Chris Sawyers only two years to turn around the Sunrise Mountain High School football program. Sawyers led the Miners to a runner-up finish in Nevada’s 4A classification last season, just two years after returning as the program’s head coach. In his absence, Sunrise Mountain had only won three games in the previous two seasons.
Just before Thanksgiving, the Miners lost to Centennial 49-31 in the state championship game at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, but Sawyers’ outstanding performance has led to the Raiders naming him as the winner of the 2023 Tom Flores Coach of the Year Award and finalist for the prestigious Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award.
The Shula Award salutes high school coaches for their character and integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.
Next month, the National Football League will choose two winners, one from the AFC and one from the NFC, from the 32 team honorees.
The Raiders surprised Coach Sawyers with the honor inside the Raiders locker room.
The Raiders gave $2,000 to the Sunrise Mountain program as part of the award, plus Sawyers got a custom football.
2023 Las Vegas Raiders Tom Flores Coach of the Week Winners
Week 9 – Zachary Monticelli, Legacy HS
Week 8 – Ernie Howren, Bishop Manogue HS
Week 7 – Deumaine Reeder, Clark HS
Week 6 – Shawn Dupris, Coronado HS
Week 5 – Travis Foster, Shadow Ridge HS
Week 4 – Keith Jones, Bonanza HS
Week 3 – Rich Muraco, Liberty HS
Week 2 – Vernon Brown – Foothill HS
Week 1 – DJ Campbell – Centennial HS
