Detroit, MI—The Detroit Lions have named Eric Stiegel of Grandville High School the week three recipient of the 2019 Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan High School Football Coach of the Week Program. Stiegel's Bulldogs defeated previously undefeated Grand Rapids Forest Hill Central, 32-29 to improve to 3-0. Grandville is currently ranked #4 in Division 1.
Stiegel is in 16th year of coaching, his 10th season as head coach and currently in his 6th season at Grandville. As a head coach at Taylor Truman, he took over a program that was 1-8 and proceed to go 17-5 his last two seasons with two playoff berths. At Grandville, Stiegel inherited a team with 7 consecutive losing seasons and has led the Bulldogs to the MHSAA playoffs 4 of the last 5 years. Stiegel's career record is 52-39 with 6 state playoff appearances. On Friday, September 20, Grandville travels to Grand Haven to take on the Buccaneers in an Ottawa-Kent Conference Red Division battle.
High School Football Coach of the Week Program
Each week throughout the 2019 nine-week 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 his 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, ESPN 96.1 FM-Fox 17/Grand Rapids), James Cook (Traverse City Record-Eagle) and Scott DeCamp (MLive-Muskegon Chronicle).
This season's program will award $22,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan, thanks to contributions from the Detroit Lions, the NFL Foundation, presenting partner, Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan and associate partner, Gatorade.
Each winning coach during the regular season will receive a $2,000 donation to his school's football program and a Gatorade performance package, compliments of Gatorade. At the conclusion of the 2019 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 $4,000 donation to his school's football program, in addition to the Gatorade performance package. All winners will receive a certificate signed by Lions' head coach Matt Patricia and National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell, a personalized game ball as well as acknowledgement at the Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on December 15.
Currently in its' 23rd year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program has awarded $433,000 to high school football programs throughout the state of Michigan. For more information on the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program, contact Chris Fritzsching, Lions' Director of Football Education, at 313-262-2248.
