Detroit, MI - The Detroit Lions have named Ryan Oshnock of Grand Rapids Northview High School the week seven recipient of the 2024 High School Football Coach of the Week Program. Oshnock's Wildcats defeated Ottawa-Kent Conference-Black Division opponent Grand Rapids Catholic Central 12-3 to advance to 7-0 for the first time since 1977 and only the 4th time in school history. Northview is currently ranked No. 3 in Division 2. On Friday, October 18th, the Wildcats host Holland Christian for their final regular season home game in only the 2nd matchup all-time between these two programs.
Oshnock is in his 13th season as a high school football coach and currently in this 4th season as head coach at Grand Rapids Northview. The win vs. GR Catholic Central served as Oshnock's 50th win as a high school football head coach. Prior to Northview, Oshnock was the head coach at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (2014-15) and Holland West Ottawa (2016-2020) and two years as an assistant coach at James F Byrnes High School in Duncan, SC. He has also held assistant coaching positions at the collegiate level at Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Ferris State and Eastern Michigan.
Detroit Lions Football Education sat down with Oshnock to discuss the Week #7 victory, his thoughts about Holland Christian and the differences between coaching at the high school and the collegiate level. Oshnock 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.
