Detroit, MI—The Detroit Lions have named Pat Collins of Montague High School the week one recipient of the 2019 Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan High School Football Coach of the Week Program. Collins' Montague Wildcats kicked off their 2019 season with a 42-0 victory over Reed City. Currently, Montague is ranked #2 in Division 5.
Collins, a Montague High School alumnus and also Montague's Athletic Director, is in his 16th season as head coach at Montague. Last year, the Wildcats were the Division 6 state runner up, losing to Jackson Lumen Christi 42-28. Collins led Montague to back to back state championships in 2008 & 2009, while also having won 5 West Michigan Conference titles, 10 district titles and 6 regional titles. His career record is 138-42 (76.7%). On Friday, September 6, the Wildcats travel to Mason County Central to take on the Spartans in a West Michigan Conference battle.
High School Football Coach of the Week Program
Each week throughout the 2019 nine-week high school football regular season, one coach that best demonstrates success on and off the field, develops players' character, discipline, and football skill in addition to emphasizing player health and safety in their program, will be recognized for his commitment to the team, school, and community. The winner is selected by a panel of high school football media members— Mick McCabe (Detroit Free Press), Hugh Bernreuter (Saginaw News), Bret Bakita (WOOD Radio-106.9 FM, ESPN 96.1 FM-Fox 17/Grand Rapids), James Cook (Traverse City Record-Eagle) and Scott DeCamp (MLive-Muskegon Chronicle).
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, the NFL Foundation, presenting partner, Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan and associate partner, Gatorade.
Each winning coach during the regular season will receive a $2,000 donation to his school's football program and a Gatorade performance package, compliments of Gatorade. At the conclusion of the 2019 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 $4,000 donation to his school's football program, in addition to the Gatorade performance package. All winners will receive a certificate signed by Lions' head coach Matt Patricia and National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell, a personalized game ball as well as acknowledgement at the Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on December 15.
Currently in its' 23rd year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program has awarded $433,000 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 Chris Fritzsching, Lions' Director of Football Education, at 313-262-2248.
