Detroit, MI - The Detroit Lions have named Brian Lewis of Howell High School the week nine recipient of the 2024 High School Football Coach of the Week Program. Lewis's Highlanders defeated the No. 1 team in Division 1, the Belleville Tigers 30-29, with a touchdown pass with three seconds remaining in the 4th quarter to win the Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship. Howell moves to 9-0 on the season for the first time since 1963 and is now ranked No. 1 in Division 1. This Friday, November 1st, the Highlanders host the 6-3 Kalamazoo Central Maroon Giants in the MHSAA District Semifinals for the first matchup ever between these two programs.
Lewis is in his 10th season coaching high school football and 8th season as a head coach. Currently in his 5th season at Howell, he also spent two seasons as head coach at Plymouth and one season as head coach at Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. Prior to that, he spent time as an assistant coach at both Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard and Brighton. The victory over Belleville was Lewis's 50th victory as a head coach in 77 games (64.9%). Lewis has led Howell to the state playoffs in 3 of 5 seasons.
Detroit Lions Football Education sat down with Lewis to discuss the Week #9 victory over Belleville, the upcoming home playoff game vs. Kalamazoo Central and his involvement with the VetLife organization and the Lil Troops on the Field program. Lewis was also informed of his Coach of the Week selection on **Head Coach Hangout**. See his reaction and the entire interview by visiting www.DetroitLions.com/coachoftheweek.
High School Football Coach of the Week Program
Each week throughout the 2024 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 their 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, 96.1 FM- The Game, Fox 17/Grand Rapids), James Cook (Traverse City Record-Eagle) and Scott DeCamp (DeCamp Creative Solutions).
This season's program will award $12,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan, thanks to contributions from the Detroit Lions and the NFL Foundation.
Each winning coach during the regular season will receive a $1,000 donation to his school's football program. At the conclusion of the 2024 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 $3,000 donation to his school's football program. All winners will receive a certificate signed by Lions' head coach Dan Campbell and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Currently in its' 28th year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program has awarded $503,000 to high school football programs throughout the state of Michigan. For more information on the High School Coach of the Week program, contact Chris Fritzsching, Lions' Executive Director of Football Education, at chris.fritzsching@lions.nfl.net.
