NFL announces 2023 Don Shula NFL High School Coaches of the Year

• Coach chosen from each conference to represent the AFC and NFC

The NFL has named Columbine High School’s Andy Lowry and Muskegon High School’s Shane Fairfield as the AFC and NFC recipients of the 2023 NFL DON SHULA High School Coach of the Year Award.

The league recognized the top high school coaches from markets of NFL teams as nominated by their respective NFL clubs. This honor is given to the high school football coaches that best represent character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player protection and on-field success, in honor of the late Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history.

Lowry, of Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., was nominated by the Denver Broncos. Columbine just won its third state title under Coach Lowry, completing a 14-0 season. In his 30th season as head coach at Columbine, Lowry earned his 300th career victory in September 2023.

Fairfield, from Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Mich., was nominated by the Detroit Lions to represent the NFC. Fairfield defeated two-time defending state champion Warren De La Salle High School, 33-21, to win the MHSAA Division II state championship. Muskegon is the all-time winningest football program in Michigan.

“We are honored to celebrate Coach Lowry and Coach Fairfield and their incredible dedication and hard work to the game of football,” said Alexia Gallagher, NFL vice president of philanthropy and executive director of the NFL Foundation. “Both exemplify the vital role that high school football coaches play in positively shaping the lives and character of their players both on and off the field.” 

Fairfield and Lowry were chosen from a list of 32 nominees, one nominated by each NFL team:
 

Nominating NFL Team	Coach	High School
Arizona Cardinals	Colin Thomas	Liberty High School
Atlanta Falcons	Keith Maloof	Norcross High School
Baltimore Ravens	Kurt Stein	Oakdale High School
Buffalo Bills	Terrell Cunningham	James Monroe High School
Carolina Panthers	Aaron Brand	Irmo High School
Chicago Bears	Derek Leonard	Rochester High School
Cincinnati Bengals	Tom Grippa	Milford High School
Cleveland Browns	Matt Dennison	Canton South High School
Dallas Cowboys	Jason Witten	Liberty Christian School
Denver Broncos	Andy Lowry	Columbine High School
Detroit Lions	Shane Fairfield	Muskegon High School
Green Bay Packers	Matt Hensler	Badger High School
Houston Texans	Cornelius Anthony	Hightower High School
Indianapolis Colts	Larry "Bud" Wright	Sheridan High School
Jacksonville Jaguars	Brian Braddock	St. Augustine High School
Kansas City Chiefs	Jesse Owen	Gardner Edgerton High School
Las Vegas Raiders	Chris Sawyers	Sunrise Mountain High School
Los Angeles Chargers	Scott Altenberg	Junipero Serra High School
Los Angeles Rams	Demel Franklin	Cerritos High School
Miami Dolphins	Daryle Heidelburg	Miami Norland Senior High School
Minnesota Vikings	Mike Diggins	Centennial High School
New England Patriots	Allan Fornaro	Xaverian Brothers High School
New York Giants	Nick Aiello	Tioga Central High School
New York Jets	Danny Landberg	Erasmus Hall High School
New Orleans Saints	Jim Hightower	St. Thomas More Catholic High School
Philadelphia Eagles	Tim Roken	St. Joseph's Preparatory School
Pittsburgh Steelers	Mike Warfield	Aliquippa High School
*San Francisco 49ers	Nelson Tran	Independence High School
Seattle Seahawks	Travis Anderson	Anacortes High School
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Clayton Varnum	Durant High School
Tennessee Titans	Tony Brunetti	Pearl Cohn High School
Washington Commanders	Bradley Lutz	William Byrd High School

The NFL Foundation, in partnership with Nike, will award Lowry and Fairfield — as the 2023 Don Shula NFL High School Coaches of the Year — with $15,000 grants for each of their high school football programs. Additionally, each coach will receive a $10,000 cash prize. They will both be guests of the NFL at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, will attend Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas and will be recognized at NFL Honors.

Read the coaches' reactions and more about the award here.