NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans have named Kevin Ward of Crockett County High School in Alamo as the Titans High School Football Coach of the Weekfor week two.
Facing Haywood High School, the Crockett County Cavaliers, were down 33-29 heading into the fourth quarter. With 10 minutes remaining in the game, Crockett County scored the game's final points to take a 36-33 lead and held off a fourth-quarter charge by Haywood for the win. Crockett County improved to 3-0 on the season, equaling the win total of its entire 2011 season. Â
Through the Titans Foundation, team owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. will make a $1,000 contribution to the Crockett County High School football program in Coach Ward's honor.
"High school football enjoys a great tradition in Tennessee," said Adams. "That tradition is based not only on the outstanding quality of play but on the devotion of their coaches who continue to develop high school football players into young men of strong character. I'm very pleased to underwrite this program that recognizes the efforts of so many talented high school coaches across the state!"
Coach Ward will be the team's guest at the Titans' season finale versus the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 30 when the team honors all of the 2012 Coach of the Week winners and announces the winner of the 2012 Coach of the Year! Coach Ward is also eligible for the Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year award. Mr. Adams will make an additional $2,000 grant to the Titans Coach of the Year winner.
Kenneth Hodge of Dresden High School, whose team defeated McKenzie High School 35-14 for the first time during the regular season since 2003, and Johnson County's Mike Atwood, whose team defeated previously unbeaten Unicoi County 17-6, also received strong consideration in this week's poll for their teams' outstanding performances.
Now in its 13th season, Mr. Adams has awarded more than $151,000 from the Titans Foundation to football programs across the state in honor of the Coach of the Week and Year winners.Â
The criteria for selection include the coach's impact on his team, school, community and emphasis on health and safety. A statewide media panel votes each week to determine the weekly winner. All high school football coaches in Tennessee, regardless of their school's size, league, or division, are eligible to be selected each week. The program recognizes high school coaches who transform, through hard work and dedication, student athletes into the best possible football players, scholars and citizens in their community.