Brownsburg (Indiana) High School’s John Hart and Slinger (Wisconsin) High School’s Bill Jacklin are the AFC and NFC recipients of the 2024 NFL Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award.
Hart was nominated by the Indianapolis Colts after leading Brownsburg to its first state championship since 1985. He became the first Indiana head football coach to win a state title with three different schools, after doing so with Evansville Reitz in 2007 and Warren Central in 2009.
“I am thankful, humbled, and honored to have been nominated by the Indianapolis Colts for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award,” Hart said in a press release. “I will be forever grateful to Brownsburg High School and the Brownsburg community for trusting, believing, and supporting my staff as well as the past and present football players. I would like to thank the Indianapolis Colts for their continued support of promoting high school football in the state of Indiana. Not too many years ago, Mr. Irsay, Coach Dungy, Peyton Manning, and the entire Colts organization created an environment that has helped make high school football in Indiana more than just a game.”
Jacklin was nominated by the Green Bay Packers after leading his team to a 14-0 season and the WIAA Division 2 state championship.
“I am deeply honored to accept the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, a recognition that stands for character, leadership, and dedication to community,” Jacklin said in the release. “This achievement is not mine alone—it represents the dedication, passion, and hard work of every individual within our Slinger Football Family. ‘All In as One’ has been more than a motto; it’s the foundation of our success.”
All 32 NFL teams nominated a coach for the award, which was chosen by a panel that included some former Football Hall of Famers. The award is named after the late Don Shula, who is the winningest coach in NFL history. It is give to the high school football coaches that best represent character, integrity, leadership, dedicaton to community, commitment to player protection and on-field success.
“We are excited to celebrate Coach Hart and Coach Jacklin, both of whom are incredible leaders on and off the field,” Alexia Gallagher, NFL vice president of philanthropy and executive director of the NFL Foundation, said in the release. “Coach Hart and Coach Jacklin exemplify the vital role that high school football coaches play in helping to shape the lives and character of their players.”
Hart and Jacklin will be guests of the NFL at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando and at the Super Bowl. Each will receive $15,000 for their high school football programs and a $10,000 cash prize.
