DENVER BRONCOS HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE WEEK
Aaron Jones
School: 8-man Nederland Panthers, Central League
Record: 1-1 in league and overall in 2014, 23-50 career
Coaching résumé: Quarterbacks coach, junior varsity assistant and head freshman coach for Hartford (Wis.) High School Orioles, in a suburb of Milwaukee, from 1999-2005; head coach at Nederland since 2006.
Life lines: Age 39. Native of Medford, Wis. Graduated from Hartford High in 1993 and Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1998, earning degrees in English and secondary education. Now working toward a master’s degree. Teaches language arts at Nederland.
Back in his day: Quarterback at Hartford from 1989-92, starter his last two seasons. Won two Little 10 Conference championships, 1991 and 1992; was all-Little 10, all-SE Wisconsin, all-region and honorable mention all-state. Played in 1993 for Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Last week: It has been a season for in-state schools to halt long losing streaks (also see Adams City, which won for the first time in 50 games in Week 1, and Central of Grand Junction, which snapped a 21-game losing streak last weekend).
On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon at home, the Panthers, who had only two forfeit victories over their previous 23 games, blew out West Grand 42-12 in league play.
Jones made it a point to let his players enjoy it.
“I expected them to be happy. I expected them to be into it,” Jones said. “They didn’t go totally crazy, but they were excited, and you could tell. I was being even-keel. I just hugged all my guys, each and every one of them.”
Jones was particularly thrilled for two-way back Mike Wood, a player who had yet to win in a Panthers uniform on any level.
“They deserved it,” West Grand coach Chris Brown said.
After West Grand went 79 yards for a touchdown on its first snap from scrimmage, Nederland took over. Jaron Dillon and Ike Thibedeau each scored two touchdowns for Nederland, with Wood tossing his third and fourth scoring passes of the season.
Jones said he refused to let his players get down no matter how long their losing streak stretched.
“When you put your stuff out there for people to judge … (Kids) want to be critical. I have pads and helmets for them to put up or shut up. I give my kids credit for battling and putting it all on the line.”
With a robust — for the level — eight seniors, Nederland is eyeing the rest of its schedule with a shot at its first league championship since 1993.
“I want my group against all of these teams,” Jones said.
The Denver Broncos high school coach of the week award will have 10 honorees during the regular season and a coach of the year at season’s end. It is presented by the Colorado National Guard, with a selection committee led by The Denver Post’s Neil H. Devlin and including Ring of Fame member Billy Thompson and 850 KOA’s Andy Lindahl. Each weekly winner will receive a $2,000 donation to his school in his name made possible by the NFL Foundation and the Colorado National Guard, and the coach of the year will receive a $4,000 grant. The coach of the year will be honored at the Broncos’ Dec. 28 game against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
