St. Thomas More’s Hightower among 2023 Don Shula High School Coach of the Year nominees

NEW YORK — Jan. 4, 2024 — The NFL announced today the high school football coaches nominated by the 32 NFL teams for the 2023 Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, representing the best in coaching at the high school level.

These coaches were recognized by their local NFL clubs for the prestigious award – named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. The coaches were judged based on areas in which Coach Shula excelled most during his career – character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.

“It is exciting to celebrate the nominees from each NFL club; all 32 represent the integrity, commitment and character of Coach Don Shula,” said Roman Oben, vice president of football development. “High school football coaches help mold the lives of young high school players both on and off the field. They serve as leaders and role models, and this group represents the very best every year.”

The NFL will recognize one winner from the region near an NFL Club in each conference, AFC and NFC. These two winners will be invited to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 4 and will be recognized in special ways during the NFL’s week-long celebration of football. Throughout the week, coaches will receive VIP access and accommodations to attend the Pro Bowl Games practices for both conferences, on-field access on Sunday for the culmination of the Pro Bowl Games, and a chance to interact and engage with various members of the football community.

The NFL Foundation and Nike have teamed up to provide the two winners a $15,000 award for their high school football programs and a $10,000 cash award. The other 30 club nominees will all receive a $1,000 cash award. The two winners will also attend Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas as special guests of the NFL. The Don Shula Award winners will be announced in the week prior to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, televised on Sunday, Feb. 4, from 3-6 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, Disney XD, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes. The winners will also be recognized and walk the red carpet at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

The Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year winners are selected by a panel of distinguished individuals:

• 2022 Don Shula NFL Coach of the Year Award AFC WinnerClive Harding
• 2022 Don Shula NFL Coach of the Year Award NFC WinnerMatthew Gallagher
• NFL analyst and former front office executiveScott Pioli
• Pro Football Hall of Famer and current ESPN contributorPeyton Manning
• Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and current NBC analystTony Dungy
• Executive Director of USA FootballScott Hallenbeck
• Former All-Pro cornerback & NFL consultantBobby Taylor
• NFL Legend and NFL Network analystMichael Robinson
• Aplington-Parkersburg High School PrincipalAaron Thomas, son of the school’s late football coach Ed Thomas
• NFL Legend, former NFL head coach, and son of the late Coach ShulaDave Shula
• Nike Brand Director of Grass Roots and TeamScott Henson

Below is a full list of the 2023 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year nominees. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit nflfoundation.org or follow @NFLFoundation on X.

*High School Girls Flag