Detroit, MI - The Detroit Lions have named JuWan Shakespear of Warren Fitzgerald High School the 2026 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week for Week #2, presented by Carhartt. Shakespear's Spartans defeated the Fraser Ramblers 41-0 to move to 2-0 on the season. On Friday, September 11, Warren Fitzgerald hosts the Marysville Vikings in the 19th matchup all-time between these two programs.
Shakespear becomes the first coach from Warren Fitzgerald to be honored with the Detroit Lions High Football Coach of the Week award in the 30 years of the program. Shakespear is in his 13th coaching football at Warren Fitzgerald and his 6th season as varsity head coach with a 28-23 (55%) overall record. He led the Spartans to two MAC-Gold conference championships in both 2021 and 2025. Shakespear was a long-time track coach and girls' basketball coach at Warren Fitzgerald and currently serves as the school's athletic director.
Detroit Lions Football Education sat down with Shakespear to discuss the balancing act between being a varsity head football coach and athletic director, the team's 2-0 start, and the tremendous game played by senior Angelo Lipscomb in Week #1 in which he scored 7 touchdowns. Shakespear was also notified of his Coach of the Week selection on Head Coach Hangout. See his reaction and the entire interview by visiting www.DetroitLions.com/coachoftheweek.
High School Football Coach of the Week Program
Each week throughout the 2026 high school football regular season, one coach that best demonstrates success on the field, develops players' character, discipline, and football skill in addition to emphasizing player health and safety in their program will be recognized for their commitment to the team, school, and community. The winner is selected by a panel of high school football media members—Mick McCabe (retired Detroit Free Press writer), Hugh Bernreuter (Saginaw News), Bret Bakita (96.1 FM-The Game), James Cook (Traverse City Record-Eagle) and Scott DeCamp (DeCamp Creative Solutions).
This season's program will award $12,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan, thanks to contributions from the Detroit Lions, the NFL Foundation and Carhartt.
Each winning coach during the regular season will receive a $1,000 donation to his school's football program. At the conclusion of the 2026 Michigan High School Football season, the Lions will also select the High School Football Coach of the Year. This season's Coach of the Year will receive a $3,000 donation to his school's football program. All winners will receive a certificate signed by Lions' head coach Dan Campbell and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Currently in its' 30th year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program has awarded $527,000 to high school football programs throughout the state of Michigan. For more information on the High School Coach of the Week program, contact Chris Fritzsching, Lions' Executive Director of Football Education, at chris.fritzsching@lions.nfl.net.
About the NFL Foundation: The National Football League Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health and safety of athletes, youth football, and the communities which support our game.
