Detroit, MI - The Detroit Lions have named Danny Brown of Grand Rapids South Christian High School the week two recipient of the 2024 High School Football Coach of the Week Program. Brown's Sailors defeated East Grand Rapids 42-28 to move to 2-0 on the season. South Christian is currently ranked No. 1 in Division 4. On Friday, September 13th, the Sailors travel to Grand Rapids West Catholic to take on the Falcons in only the 3rd matchup all-time between these two programs.
Brown is in his 14th season of coaching high school football, spending all 14 years at South Christian. He has served 6 seasons as head coach while leading the Sailors to the 2022 Division 4 State Championship and a Division 4 state runner-up in 2023. Brown has compiled a 48-15 (76.2%) overall record, leading the Sailors to the playoffs in all 6 seasons. Prior to taking over, he spent 8 seasons as an assistant coach, winning state championships in 2012 and 2014. A South Christian alumnus, Brown has also won a football state championship as a student, playing defensive back on the 2002 Division 4 State Championship team.
Detroit Lions Football Education sat down with Brown to discuss the victory over East Grand Rapids, what it is like to be one of the few to win a football state championship as a student, assistant coach and a head coach and about South Christian's involvement in Victory Day and what it means to those participating. Brown 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.
