driskellcoy.jpg

Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award Winners

The Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award award is given a coach who has demonstrated outstanding coaching qualities over the past season.

  • 2023

    Jesse Owen

    Gardner-Edgerton

    Jesse Owen won the honor after leading the Trailblazers to their first Kansas 6A championship.

    ge_vs_der_112523_nts_1822.jpg
  • 2022

    Bryan DeLong

    Center

    DeLong has been named the Eric Driskell High School Coach of the Year for the 2022 season. Center finished the season 11-1, losing to defending Class 4 champion Smithville in the quarterfinals. The Yellowjackets went 6-0 in league play, and DeLong led the team to its first Missouri River Valley Conference title in 2022 since joining the league four years ago.

    delongwinscoy.jpg
  • 2021

    Clint Rider

    Blue Valley Northwest

    Blue Valley Northwest started its season with a 35-21 win over Blue Valley and never looked back. The Huskies' only loss of the regular season came against St. Thomas Aquinas High School before starting a dominant run to the Kansas Class 6A title. Northwest would average 52 points per game in the postseason, beating Blue Valley West 35-7 to advance to the Huskies' first-ever state championship game. In the title game, Northwest dominated three-time defending champion Derby 41-21.

    derby_vs_bvnw_112721_nts_0006.jpg
  • 2020

    Tom Radke

    St. James Academy

    St. James knocked off No. 1 ranked and undefeated Paola High School 45-35 in the second round of the 4A playoffs. The Thunder would go on to beat six-time defending 4A champ Bishop Miege 36-35 in overtime on their way to winning their first-ever state title with a 56-34 win over Arkansas City in the Kansas 4A championship game. The Thunder finished the season 8-4.

    radkecoy2020.jpg
  • 2019

    William Lowe

    Lincoln College Prep

    Lowe led the Blue Tigers to an 11-1 record falling to Platte County in the Class 4 district final. Lincoln Prep finished with one of the best seasons in school history

    lowe2019coy.jpeg
  • 2018

    Leon Douglas

    North Kansas City

    In 2018, the North Kansas City High School football team had its best season in 50 years. The Hornets went 9-2 overall.

    leondouglas.jpeg
  • 2017

    Kansas: Andy Sims

    Blue Valley North Missouri: Phil Lite
  • 2016

    Kansas: Eric Driskell

    Blue Valley Missouri: Bryan DeLong
  • 2015

    Kansas: Joel Applebee

    Mill Valley Missouri: Ryan Schartz
  • 2014

    Kansas: Jon Holmes

    Bishop Miege Missouri: Pat Richard
  • 2013

    Kansas: Dustin Delaney

    Shawnee Mission East Missouri: Kelly Donohoe
  • 2012

    Kansas: Tim Callaghan

    Shawnee Mission West Missouri: Kelly Donohoe
  • 2011

    Kansas: Jeff Gourley

    Olathe South Missouri: Fred Bouchard
  • 2010

    Kansas: Eric Driskell

    Blue Valley Missouri: Tony Severino
  • 2009

    Kansas: Pete Flood

    Olathe North Missouri: Ryan Schartz
  • 2008

    Kansas: Kevin Kopecky

    St. Thomas Aquinas Missouri: David Allie
  • 2007

    Kansas: Scott Wright

    Blue Valley West Missouri: Royce Boehm
  • 2006

    Kansas: Steve Rampy

    Blue Valley Missouri: Greg Oder
  • 2005

    Kansas: Jeff Meyers

    Olathe East Missouri: Tom Kruse
  • 2004

    Kansas: Mark Littrell

    Olathe South Missouri: Tom Kruse
  • 2003

    Kansas: Steve Rampy

    Blue Valley Missouri: Mark Thomas
  • 2002

    Kansas: Gene Wier

    Olathe North Missouri: Tony Severino
  • 2001

    Kansas: Gene Wier

    Olathe North Missouri: Kelly Donohoe
  • 2000

    Kansas: Gene Wier

    Olathe North Missouri: Chip Sherman
  • 1999

    Kansas: Mark Littrell

    Olathe South Missouri: Tony Severino
  • 1998

    Kansas: Steve Rampy

    Blue Valley Missouri: Rick Byers