Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lions have named Thomas Wilcher of Detroit Cass Tech as the 2011 High School Coach of the Year. This year’s High School Coach of the Week/Year Program is Presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Wilcher and his Cass Tech Technicians captured the Division 1 state title with a 49-13 victory over Novi Detroit Catholic Central in the championship game at Ford Field on Saturday (Nov. 26). The Technicians concluded the 2011 season with an 11-3 record and became the first Detroit Public School team to win the Division 1 state title.
Wilcher is in his 15th season as head coach at Cass Tech where his career record stands at 101-56. He served as an assistant for six seasons before taking over as head coach. He was named a Lions’ high school coach of the week in 2010.
COACH OF THE WEEK PROGRAM
Each week throughout the 2011 nine-week high school regular season, one coach that best develops his players’ character, discipline and football skill will be recognized for his commitment to the team, school and community. The winner is selected by a panel of three newspaper writers -- Mick McCabe (Detroit Free Press), Jane Bos (Grand Rapids Press) and Hugh Bernreuter (Saginaw News).
This season’s program will award $22,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan thanks to contributions from the Detroit Lions and the National Football League and presenting sponsor the Michigan Army National Guard.
Each winning coach throughout the regular season will receive a $2,000 donation to his school’s football program. All weekly winners will be honored at an awards ceremony during the Lions-Vikings game at Ford Field on December 11. During the ceremony, the Lions will also introduce the High School Coach of the Year. This year’s Coach of the Year will receive a $4,000 donation to his team’s football program.
In addition to the monetary award, all winners receive a framed certificate signed by Lions’ head coach Jim Schwartz and National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell. Winning coaches also receive a personalized game ball, and a Detroit Lions “Coach of the Week” hat.
In its 15th year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program will have awarded $290,000 to high school football programs throughout the state of Michigan. For more information on the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program, contact Chad Walker at (313) 216-4000.
2011 Coach of the Week Recipients:
- Week 1 - Charles Spann - Detroit Pershing
- Week 2 - Ed Greenman - Harper Creek
- Week 3 - Jason McIntyre - Mount Pleasant
- Week 4 - Bill Feraco - East Lansing
- Week 5 - Tim Brandon - Grosse Pointe South
- Week 6 - Jeff Setzke - Fenton
- Week 7 - Eric Tundevold - Union City
- Week 8 - Joe Delaney - Grand Blanc
- Week 9 - Bill Santilli - Crystal Falls Forest Park
Coach of the Year Recipients:
- 1997 - John Herrington - Farmington Hills Harrison
- 1998 - Thomas Mach - Detroit Catholic Central
- 1999 - Don Durrett - Saginaw
- 2000 - Herb Brogan - Jackson Lumen Christi
- 2001 - John Schwartz - Mendon
- 2002 - Mike Boyd - Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes
- 2003 - Scot Shaw - Three Rivers
- 2004 - Noel Dean - Lowell
- 2005 - Jack Pratt - Flint Powers
- 2006 - Tony Annese - Muskegon
- 2007 - Jim Reynolds - Detroit King
- 2008 - Peter Stuursma - East Grand Rapids
- 2009 - Rich Hulkow - Marshall
- 2010 - Chris Bell - Lake Orion
- 2011 - Thomas Wilcher - Detroit Cass Tech
