This took me pretty much most of the Patriots-Broncos game watching, researching and writing, but here it is, the history of the Denver Broncos high school coach of the week.
Below are the coaches of the week and coaches of the year for 20 years of the award. All that’s missing is this year’s coach of the year, and we’ll get to that once the final three championships are decided enxt weekend.
I can still remember the telephone call out of the clear blue from Steve Sewell, the former Broncos running back who was working in the teams’ community-relations department (I think). Steve asked if I would help bring the prep coaches into it and I said, “Duh, of course!”
One week shy of two decades, I have been involved in getting our high-school coaches to the big stadium and getting them on the field for the Broncos annual salute to high school football. I have worked with former Broncos, such as Billy Thompson, and still do with KOA’s Andy Lindahl. And, by my approximate count, about $250,000 has been given back to our state’s prep ball.
I salute the Broncos and the NFL.
This year’s program will be on Jan. 3 against the San Diego Chargers. We’ll have the 10 Broncos coaches of the week from the regular season (each will receive $1,000 for their programs), the coach of the year (he’ll get $2,000), representatives from the seven classification winners and The Denver Post 2015 Gold Helmet winner, our 65th.
But check out the names below. Vintage, current, nostalgic … it’s quite a list.
And it’s my great pleasure to be involved … and now, back to the game …
1996
Coach of the year: Joe Ramunno, Palisade
Coaches of the week:
Don McGatlin, Green Mountain
Mick McCall, Mullen
Greg King, Stratton
Glenn Gielas, Horizon
Ralph Bredehoft, Flagler
Dave Sidwell, Regis Jesuit
Oliver Lucas, Thomas Jefferson
Tom Brockman, Pueblo Centennial
Mike Woolford, Cherry Creek
Joe Ramunno, Palisade
1997
Coach of the year: John Pounder, Hinkley
Coaches of the week:
Steve Thyfault, Durango
John Pounder, Hinkley
Tom Thenell, Bear Creek
Clint Fick, Faith Christian
Nate Howard, Manual
Mike Griebel, Heritage
Gary Anderson, D’Evelyn
Dave Ramsey, Boulder
Gordon Cramer, Longmont
Bill Mara, Regis Jesuit
1998
Coach of the year: Clint Fick, Faith Christian
Coaches of the week:
Mick Ward, Aurora Central
Dave Logan, Arvada West
Paul “Tiny” Koehler, Niwot
Paul Nelson, Arapahoe
Gary Davies, Broomfield
Tom Thenell, Bear Creek
Gary Klatt, Pomona
Rich Yonker, Poudre
Tom McCartney, Fairview
Louis Wright, Montbello
1999
Coach of the year: Andy Lowry, Columbine
Coaches of the week:
Dave Renquest, Lutheran
Harold Johnson, South
Mike Sirko, Rampart
Scott Gallas, Northglenn
Tony Manfredi, Overland
Matt Loyd, Golden
Bill Mara, Regis Jesuit
Paul Colgate, Wasson
John Poovey, Loveland
Marty Heaton, ThunderRidge
2000
Coach of the year: Lee Hitchcock, Cañon City
Coaches of the week:
Ed Stevens, Chaparral
Louis Wright, Montbello
Tom Smailes, Rocky Mountain
Billy Moore, Fruita Monument
Dan Gallas, Smoky Hill
Joel Johnson, Kiowa
Bob Carskie, Boulder
Mike Roof, Pine Creek
Chuck Puga, Highlands Ranch
Gary Davies, Broomfield
2001
Coach of the year: Manny Wasinger, Alamosa
Coaches of the week:
Gary Thompson, Eaglecrest
Brad Bunting, University
Jeff Sweet, Gateway
Tony Manfredi, Overland
Jim Trahern, Kit Carson
Ken Soper, Dolores County
Tom Ritter, Brighton
Mark Swalley, Denver Christian
Jim Dooley, Doherty
Steve Finesilver, George Washington
2002
Coach of the year: Al Talbot, Golden
Coaches of the week:
Dominic Capra, Legacy
Jeff Wilson, Pueblo County
Mike Gabriel, Holy Family
Matt Loyd, Ralston Valley
Rocky Whitworth, Grandview
Don Morse, Bennett
Randy Penn, Englewood
Jim Ryan, Regis Jesuit
Gene Dixon, La Junta
Jamie Woodruff, Ponderosa
2003
Coach of the year: Mark Swalley, Denver Christian
Coaches of the year:
Chad Koepke, Littleton
Eric Rice, Fort Collins
Manuel Gonzales, Jr., Holly
Brian Christensen, Akron
Jay Madden, Pomona
Dave Gonzales, Rangeview
Wayne Voorhees, Legacy
Don McGatlin, Green Mountain
Oliver Lucas, Montbello
Tony Manfredi, Overland
2004
Coach of the year: Mike O’Dwyer, Limon
Coaches of the week:
David Hall, Aurora Central
Frank Ybarra, Horizon
Mark Bauder, Sterling
Don McGatin, Green Mountain
Vern McGee, Central (G.J.)
Tom Doherty, Eaglecrest
Jason Tice, Lamar
Chad Senseney, Centaurus
Tom Smailes, Rocky Mountain
Jeff Sweet, Gateway
2005
Coach of the year: Jeff Ketron, Douglas County
Coaches of the week:
Greg Critchett, Cherry Creek
Mike Schmidt, Platte Canyon
Tony Ramunno, Lewis-Palmer
Dan Schmidt, Julesburg
John Nichols, Lyons
Casey Coons, Arvada West
Tony Manfredi, Overland
Jeff Ketron, Douglas County
Tom Ritter, Brighton
Gary Davies, Broomfield
2006
Coach of the year: Tim Gribben, Idalia
Coaches of the week:
Mark Robinson, Lakewood
Rick Upchurch, Pueblo East
Monte Thelen, Cherokee Trail
Reid Kahl, Wheat Ridge
Jeff Wilson, Pueblo County
Mike O’Dwyer, Limon
Brian Christensen, Akron
Ric Cash, Mountain Vista
Bob Hudson, Fort Lupton
Shawn Mitchell, Harrison
2007
Coach of the year: Monte Pinkerton, Pueblo West
Coaches of the week:
Tim Owens, Thomas Jefferson
Bret McGatlin, Chatfield
George Purnell, Holyoke
Mike Griebel, Heritage
Mike Woolford, Regis Jesuit
Jason Catron, Falcon
Doug Johnson, Longmont
Paul Griese, Woodlin
Todd Matkin, Highland
Rocky Whitworth, Glenwood Springs
2008
Coach of the year: Brian Christensen, Akron
Coaches of the week:
Joe Johnson, ThunderRidge
Francisco Lujan, Jefferson
Larry Gartrell, Erie
Todd Miller, Pine Creek
Rocky Schneider, Prairie View
Aaron Abeyta, Antonito
Casey Coons, Arvada West
Mick Holmes, Dayspring Christian
Reid Kahl, Wheat Ridge
Mark Haering, Pueblo South
2009
Coach of the year: Mike Griebel, Heritage
Coaches of the week:
James Lopez, Manzanola
Tom Doherty, Eaglecrest
Jaron Cohen, Liberty
Bret McGatlin, Chatfield
Ryan Hollingshead, Castle View
Tom Lynch, Rock Canyon
Greg Wyatt, Durango
Keith Gille, Yuma
Jeff Jordahl, Edison
Blair Hubbard, Faith Christian
2010
Coach of the year: Dave Logan, Mullen
Coaches of the week:
Shelby Langford, Primero
Mark Nolan, Regis Jesuit
Levi Kramer, Wray
Glynn Higgs, Burlington
Bill Nelson, Skyview
Troy Hauxwell, Bethune
Rich Martinez, John F. Kennedy
Matt Loyd, Ralston Valley
Ed Eastin, Roosevelt
Thad Lear, Frederick
2011
Coach of the year: Andy Lowry, Columbine
Coaches of the week:
Ron McFarland, Denver East
John Schultz, Grandview
Mark Buderus, Florence
Randy Begano, Trinidad
Robbie Owens, Grand Junction
Jamie Heiner, Cornerstone Christian Academy
Randy Dreitz, Brush
Mike Apodaca, Silver Creek
Chris Coppa, Cañon City
Fred Marjerrison, Widefield
2012
Coach of year: Phil Bravo, Monarch
Coaches of the week:
Seth Replogle, Overland
Mitch Johnson, Fountain-Fort Carson
Bill Mondt, Eaton
John Vogt, Chaparral
Sean Mulvey, Fruita Monument
Shawn Randel, McClave
David Bervig, The Classical Academy
Ben Johnson, Delta
Tony Lindsay, Denver South
Damon Wells, Rifle
2013
Coach of the year – Todd Miller, Pine Creek
Coaches of the week:
Ashour Peera, Gateway
Matt Smith, Thompson Valley
Brandon Milholland, Cedaredge
John Trahan, Montbello
Todd Casebier, Montrose
Mark Robinson, Lakewood
Matt Flavin, Buena Vista
Brian Davey, Mountain Range
David Joyce, Doherty
Shawn Mitchell, Discovery Canyon
2014
Coach of the year — Dave Logan, Cherry Creek
Coaches of the week:
Dan Jajczyk, Adams City
Aaron Jones, Nederland
Dean Huffman, Manual
Zach Morris, Bear Creek
Manny Wasinger, Monte Vista
Jeremy Cole, Cotopaxi
Wayne Voorhees, Legacy
Ryan Hollingshead, Castle View
Kurt Krantz, Littleton
Ron Woitalewicz, Dakota Ridge
2015
Coach if the year: TBA
Coaches of the week:
Rich Bortner, Arvada
Mike D. Gabriel, Holy Family
Shane Ward, Gateway
Frank Ybarra, Horizon
Jeremy Mercer, Pueblo Central
Tom McCartney, Fairview
Doug Johnson, Longmont
Kerry Denison, Westminster
Mike Campbell, Arapahoe
Stacy Coryell, Wheat Ridge
