Simone Awards

<h2 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body">The History of the Award</h2>
In its 23rd season, the High School Coach of the Week is a joint initiative of the Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football League. The program is designed to recognize and reward Kansas City area high school coaches for superior performance weekly while honoring individuals who are shaping today&rsquo;s youth and tomorrow&rsquo;s leaders.
The Kansas City Chiefs select Coaches of the Week from Missouri and Kansas weekly. At the end of the season, the weekly winners are voted on by the board of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association, and the winner named the Eric Driskell Coach of the Year in honor of the late Blue Valley coach who twice won the award and passed away tragically in 2017 at the age of 43. The Kansas City Chiefs/Eric Driskell Coach of the Year was first presented as part of the Thomas A. Simone Awards in 2018. From 1998 to 2017, a Kansas and Missouri Coach of the Year was selected and awarded at the Simone Awards ceremony.
<h2 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body">The Winner of the 2024 Coach of the Year Award- Chad Frigon</h2>
The 2024 winner of the Coach of the Year award is Chad Frigon of Liberty High School. The Kansas City Chiefs have announced that Liberty High School Head Coach Chad Frigon is the Eric Driskell High School Coach of the Year for the 2024 season. In his 14th year of coaching, Chad Frigon was recognized in week 10 as the Coach of the Week honoree. His team, the Liberty Blue Jays, finished 9-4, earning their first district title since 2005 and advancing to the Class 6 semifinals, where they came up short. He has an overall school record of 87-64, starting as the freshman football coach and then serving as varsity assistant football coach for 13 years before taking his head coaching job.
"I am so honored to be recognized with this award. Being a head coach is hardly a one-man job, there are so many people that have worked to make our program what it is," Frigon said. "I have been lucky to be surrounded by great people. We are so appreciative of what the Chiefs do to promote high school football programs in Kansas City."
<h2>The Finalists</h2>
The Kansas City Chiefs and PrepsKC select coaches of the week throughout the season from Kansas and Missouri to be recognized and then vote down to the Top 4.&nbsp; The following finalists also made Top 4 for this honorable award.&nbsp;
Sam Knopik, Pembroke Hill
Todd Miller, Lee&rsquo;s Summit
<div class="nfl-c-body-part nfl-c-body-part--text">
Alan Wilmes, Blue Springs South
</div>

This award is designed to recognize and reward Kansas City area high school coaches for superior performance weekly while honoring individuals who are shaping today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders.

2024 Chiefs Eric Driskell High School Head Coach of the Year: Chad Frigon

The 2024 Thomas A. Simone Awards celebrated high school football talent in the Kansas City area, with top athletes receiving honors across multiple categories. Here's the recap of the full event and award winners that took place on December 10th at Liberty High School.
&nbsp;
<a title="Simone Award Winner" href="https://thesimoneawards.com/1-4-2025/2024_simone_award_winner__jaxon_hicks">Thomas A. Simone Award</a> Awarded to the most outstanding high school football player in the Kansas City metropolitan area, this year's honor went to:
<ul>
<li>WINNER: Jaxon Hicks, Senior Running Back, Liberty High School</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<a title="Frank Fontana Award" href="https://thesimoneawards.com/1-4-2025/2024_frank_fontana_award_winner__kobe_westphal">Frank Fontana Award</a> Recognizing the most outstanding player at smaller high schools in the area, the finalists included:
<ul>
<li>Carter Temple, Sophomore Quarterback, Kearney</li>
<li>WINNER: Kobe Westphal, Senior Quarterback, Warrensburg</li>
<li>Jordan Haley, Senior Quarterback, Braymer</li>
<li>Marco Rodriguez, Senior Quarterback, Bishop Miege</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<a title="Buck Buchanan Award" href="https://thesimoneawards.com/1-4-2025/2024_buck_buchanan_award_winner__jayden_woods">Buck Buchanan Award</a> Honoring the best linebacker, defensive, or offensive lineman, the finalists were:
<ul>
<li>WINNER: Jayden Woods, Senior LB/DE, Mill Valley</li>
<li>Andrew Babalola, Senior Offensive Lineman, Blue Valley Northwest</li>
<li>Anthony Thompson, Senior Linebacker, Fort Osage</li>
<li>Dawson Merrit, Senior Linebacker, Blue Valley</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<a title="Bobby Bell Award" href="https://thesimoneawards.com/1-5-2025/2024_bobby_bell_award_winner__ashton_moore">Bobby Bell Award</a> Recognizing small-school linebacker, and defensive, or offensive linemen, the finalists included:
<ul>
<li>WINNER: Ashton Moore, Senior Linebacker, Louisburg</li>
<li>Bo Smith, Senior OL/DL, Chillicothe</li>
<li>Finn Cusick, Senior Defensive End, Bishop Miege</li>
<li>Theo Grace, Senior Linebacker, Kearney</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<a title="Otis Taylor Award 2024" href="https://thesimoneawards.com/1-5-2025/2024_otis_taylor_award_winner__isaiah_mozee">Otis Taylor Award</a> Honoring the best wide receiver or tight end in the Kansas City area, the finalists were:
<ul>
<li>Larry Porter, Senior Wide Receiver, Raytown</li>
<li>Karsten Fiene, Junior Wide Receiver, Lee&rsquo;s Summit</li>
<li>WINNER: Isaiah Mozee, Senior Wide Receiver, Lee&rsquo;s Summit North</li>
<li>Quin Myers, Senior Wide Receiver, Blue Valley West</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
73 athletes were named to the All-Simone Team, remembering the late Tommy Simone who wore the #73 on the field. You can find the list of those athletes <a title="All-Simone Team" href="https://thesimoneawards.com/1-5-2025/2024_all-simone_team_announced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<a title="Nathan Stiles Winner" href="https://thesimoneawards.com/1-5-2025/2024_nathan_stiles_award_winner__annalise_anderson">Nathan Stiles Award</a>&nbsp;was awarded to Anna Anderson, A kicker and wide receiver for Park Hill High School, who built a remarkable career in her time at Park Hill. Known for her strong leadership skills and dedication, Anna was a stellar kicker and the first female to ever receive a varsity letter in football at Park Hill. She also excels on the basketball court leading her team. Whether through achievements in athletics or serving the community, Anna demonstrates a commitment to excellence and continuous growth, inspiring others along the way. she was recognized as academic all state and is the first KC-area female to make the 18-man roster for the 2024 17U Girls National Team. We are honored to recognize Anna as the 2024 winner of the Nathan Stiles Memorial Award. She continues to inspire girls everywhere with her ambition, drive, and success, which is why she was selected as the winner of the Nathan Stiles Award.
&nbsp;
The Kansas City Chiefs announced the winner of the <a title="Coach of the Year Award" href="https://thesimoneawards.com/1-5-2025/2024_chiefs_eric_driskell_high_school_head_coach_of_the_year__chad_frigon">Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award</a>, Chad Frigon of Liberty High School. &nbsp;In his 14th year of coaching, Chad Frigon was recognized in week 10 as the Coach of the Week honoree. His team, the Liberty Blue Jays, finished 9-4, earning their first district title since 2005 and advancing to the Class 6 semifinals, where they came up short.&nbsp;He has an overall school record of 87-64, starting as the freshman football coach and then serving as varsity assistant football coach for 13 years before taking his head coaching job.
&nbsp;
This year, we changed the selection process to balance the voting of nominees and winners. The recipients of all of these prestigious awards were selected by a vote of the high school football coaches and select media members in the metropolitan area.&nbsp;
We are incredibly honored to be able to recognize these elite athletes from programs all over the Kansas City Metro area, across Kansas and Missouri. These annual awards highlight the exceptional talent of high school football players, celebrating their achievements both on and off the field.
&nbsp;

The 2024 Thomas A. Simone Awards celebrated the top high school football talent in the Kansas City area, with standout athletes receiving honors across multiple categories.

2024 Thomas A. Simone Awards Ceremony Recap

The All-Simone team recognizes the top 73 players in the Kansas City Metro area at every position. The #73 represents the number worn on the jersey of the late Tommy Simone. The members of the 2024 Thomas A. Simone Team are as follows:&nbsp;
Ayden Wilhelm QB- Blue Springs South
Tate Nagy QB- Blue Valley West
Banks Bowen QB- Lawrence
Zane Thomas QB- Park Hill
Rocco Marriott QB- Platte County
Bravin Powell QB- Gardner Edgerton
Jordan Haley QB- Braymer
Kobe Westphal QB- Warrensburg
Josh Stahl QB- Pembroke Hill
Marco Rodriguez QB- Bishop Miege
Carson Dixon QB- Basehor-Linwood
Carter Temple QB- Kearney
Jaxon Pollard RB/DB- Lansing
Jaxon Hicks RB- Liberty
Calin Arndt RB, St. Thomas Aquinas
Reggie Reece RB- Mill Valley
Luis Tellado RB- St. Michael the Archangel
Travon Pankey RB- Oak Park
Larry Porter WR- Raytown
Shawn Bridgewater WR- Central High School
Ashaun Moore LB Lincoln College Prep Academy
Isaiah Mozee WR- Lee's Summit North
Josiah Stigger WR- Pembroke Hill
Myles Vohs WR- Louisburg
Grant Noland WR/DB- Kearney
Andy Watts WR- Mill Valley
Karsten Fiene WR- Lee's Summit High School
Peyton Hatfield WR- Lee's Summit High School
Tommy Hutsler WR- St Pius X
Braylon Agee WR- Park Hill
Dante Dixon WR- Park Hill
Quin Myers WR- Blue Valley West
Sam Niesen WR- St. James
Trevor Garlington WR- BV Northwest
Tres Baskerville WR- Platte County
Drew Clemons TE- Oak Park
Andrew Babalola OL- Blue Valley NW
Brock Heath OL- Blue Valley NW
Motie Williams OL/DL- Liberty North
Trevor Bindel OL- Liberty
Juju Marks OL- Olathe South
Bo Smith OL/DL- Chillicothe MO
Joe Schranz OL- Kearney
Kolby Harris OL- Smithville
Kyler Kuhn OL- St. Pius X
Dom Bruce OL- Blue Springs South
Ka'Mori Moore DL- Lee's Summit North
Cru Huenfeld DE- St. Thomas Aquinas
Isaiah Hung DE- Liberty
Ronelle Johnson DL- Blue Springs
Charlie Woleben DL- De Soto
Finn Cusick DE- Bishop Miege
Dawson Merrit LB- Blue Valley
Jayden Woods DE/LB- Mill Valley
Maguire Richman LB- Blue Valley
Anthony Thompson LB- Fort Osage
Jeb Koetting LB- Rockhurst
Carl Molle LB- St. Pius X
Armon Canada LB- KIPP Legacy HS
Gage Bowland LB- Savannah HS
Landon Noland LB- Savannah HS
Ashton Moore LB- Louisburg HS
Ryan Munsterman LB- Warrensburg
Garrett Pierce LB- Basehor-Linwood
Dane Ferrel LB/OL- Pleasant Hill
Xavier May LB- Pembroke Hill
Theo Grace LB- Kearney
Haze Middleton LB- Smithville
DeAngelo Baylis Ath/DB/Ret- KIPP Legacy HS
RJ Collins DB- Staley High School
Brady Roe FS- Pleasant Hill
Isaac McIntosh DB- Lee's Summit North
Wyatt Flood DB- Olathe North
Congratulations to these athletes on their outstanding performances this season.&nbsp;

The All-Simone team recognizes the top 73 players in the Kansas City Metro area at every position.

2024 All-Simone Team Announced

<h2>The 2024 Nathan Stiles Award Winner: Annalise Anderson</h2>
Anna Anderson, A kicker and wide receiver for Park Hill High School, has built a remarkable career during her time at Park Hill. Known for her strong leadership skills and dedication, Anna was a stellar kicker and the first female to ever receive a varsity letter in football at Park Hill. She also excels on the basketball court, leading her team. Whether through achievements in athletics or serving the community, Anna demonstrates a commitment to excellence and continuous growth, inspiring others along the way. she was recognized as an academic all-state and is the first KC-area female to make the 18-man roster for the 2024 17U Girls National Team. We are honored to recognize Anna as the 2024 Nathan Stiles Memorial Award winner. She continues to inspire girls everywhere with her ambition, drive, and success.
<h2>The History of the Nathan Stiles Award</h2>
The Nathan Stiles Inspiration Award began in 2011 and is given to a person who has made an impact on football in the Metro. The Stiles Award is in memory of Spring Hill player Nathan Stiles, who passed away after being injured in a game in 2010.&nbsp;
Nathan Stiles loved to read the Word of God and made it a part of his everyday life. His heart was for his generation. Our mission is to help others form a life-changing relationship with Jesus through reading and discussing the Word. After his passing, his parents committed to buying Life Application Study Bibles to give away to those who needed them. The Nathan Project was introduced to the more than 3,000 people attending Nathan&rsquo;s memorial, and local and national media covered it. For 14 years now, they've been sharing God's word with others with over 46,000 Bibles distributed, including approximately 15,000 that went to more than 30 correctional facilities in Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, Texas and Missouri. You can donate and learn more about this ministry and the incredible work they're doing on their website: <a href="http://www.nathanproject.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0OfRaxBW4IediZOPsu6EEm9vgGklrAZabJY3cfIZfspvV4nX8oFym321c_aem_qLVBwKLKQzWEEzcx3bFVWQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.nathanproject.com/</a>
&nbsp;

This award is given to a person who has made an impact on football in the Metro.

2024 Nathan Stiles Award Winner: Annalise Anderson

The Interscholastic League Award, established in 2011 to recognize student-athlete efforts in the inner city, honors one or two outstanding football players from the IL. The winner(s) is recognized at the annual Simone Awards ceremony.
Shawn Bridgewater, a senior wide receiver at Central High School, had an exceptional senior season. He finished with 40 receptions, 500 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. His outstanding performance on the field has earned him scholarship offers from McPherson College and Bethany College, and he is taking his football career to the next level. His hard work and talent continue to pay off, and we're excited to see him perform at the next level as well.&nbsp;
Ashaun Moore, a senior linebacker at Lincoln College Prep Academy, had stellar performances on the field this year. He ended his season with 125 tackles, of which 17 were for a loss, 55 carries for 245 yards, 4 Receptions, and 4 touchdowns. Although he has not yet committed, he has official offers from Central Methodist, Missouri Southern, and Avila to take his football skills to the next level.&nbsp;
The Thomas A. Simone Awards recognized these top athletes at the recent awards ceremony on December 10th and looks forward to continuing to watch them perform at the next level. Congratulations to both!&nbsp;

The winners of the 2024 Interscholastic League Award are Shawn Bridgewater, Wide Receiver, Central High School and Ashaun Moore, Linebacker, Lincoln College Prep Academy.

2024 Interscholastic League Award Winners: Shawn Bridgewater & Ashaun Moore

The Otis Taylor Award recognizes the most outstanding wide receiver or tight end in the Kansas City metropolitan area. In addition to the trophy, which will reside at the recipient's high school for one year, the Simone-Fontana Foundation will donate $1,500 to the school's athletic department.
<h3 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body">The 2024 Otis Taylor Award winner is Isaiah Mozee, senior wide receiver for Lee's Summit North. </h3>
Mozee ended the year with 53 catches, 824 yards &amp; 13 touchdowns. He is an incredibly talented athlete and was noted by Sports Illustrated as the second highest-rated player overall for 2024. He has committed to attend Nebraska in the Fall and is noted as their #1 recruit of his class.&nbsp;
Otis Taylor was one of his era's best and most exciting wide receivers. He played in three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls, following the 1970-72 seasons. After his career, he owned the Kansas City Chiefs' career records for receiving yards (7,306), receiving touchdowns (57), and 100-yard receiving games (20). Otis Taylor's 410 career receptions rank second in team history.
He may be best known for his dazzling 46-yard touchdown pass in Super Bowl IV, which helped the Chiefs upset the Minnesota Vikings. Inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Ring of Honor in 1982, he wore number 89 as a Chiefs player. The school has retired his number 17 from his college days at Prairie View A&amp;M.
<h2 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body">The History of the Award</h2>
In 2007, at the suggestion of high school football referee Curtis Whiters, the Simone-Fontana Foundation contacted Otis Taylor family friend and Kansas City icon Ollie Gates about starting the Otis Taylor Award to recognize the most outstanding wide receiver/tight end in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Ollie took the idea to Otis Taylor and his family, who gave the award their blessing.&nbsp;
<h2 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body">The Finalists</h2>
Larry Porter, Senior Wide Reciever, Raytown
Karsten Fiene, Junior Wide Reciever, Lee's Summit
Quin Myers, Senior Wide Receiver, Blue Valley West

2024 Chiefs Eric Driskell High School Head Coach of the Year: Chad Frigon

The History of the Award

The Winner of the 2024 Coach of the Year Award- Chad Frigon

The Finalists

2024 Thomas A. Simone Awards Ceremony Recap

2024 All-Simone Team Announced

2024 Nathan Stiles Award Winner: Annalise Anderson

2024 Interscholastic League Award Winners: Shawn Bridgewater & Ashaun Moore

2024 Otis Taylor Award Winner: Isaiah Mozee

Thomas A. Simone Memorial Football Awards