Detroit, MI—The Detroit Lions have named Joe Smokevitch of Johannesburg-Lewiston High School the week three recipient of the 2020 High School Football Coach of the Week Program. Smokevitch's Cardinals won their 3rd game of the season with a 37-6 victory over Frankfort. Currently, Johannesburg-Lewiston is 3-0 and ranked #10 in Division 8.
Smokevitch, is in his 21st season coaching high school football, first as a long-time assistant at Johannesburg-Lewiston, and now in his 8th season as head coach. The Cardinals have qualified for the MHSAA playoffs 6 of the last 7 seasons under Smokevitch and have won 22 games over the last two seasons and three games. His career record is 58-19
(75.3%). On Friday, October 9, the Cardinals travel to St. Ignace to take on the 0-3 Saints in a Northern Michigan Football League-Legacy Division battle.
High School Football Coach of the Week Program
Each week throughout the 2020 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 $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 $1,500 donation to his school's football program. At the conclusion of the 2020 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 Matt Patriciaand National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell.
Currently in its' 24th year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program has awarded $455,000 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 chris.fritzsching@lions.nfl.net.
