ATLANTA — The National Football League recognizes the top high school football coach in the country every year. For the second year in a row, the NFL has selected a Georgia coach as its winner.
Booker T. Washington head coach Derrick Avery is the 2020 NFL Don Shula High School Coach of the Year, the league announced Wednesday.
“I love football, I love sports, it comes naturally when you love what you’re doing. You never think about the accolades or gifts,” Avery said. “It’s an honor to be chosen. From out of 400 coaches in Georgia to the 32 outstanding coaches from the clubs, it really is an honor.”
What a cool moment congrats Coach Avery ! https://t.co/kjA905SE4y
— Alison Mastrangelo (@AlisonWSB) August 18, 2021
Last fall, Avery led the Bulldogs to a 7-3 record and a return to the postseason – a four-win improvement from the previous season.
Off the field, he worked with the Atlanta Falcons on their Rise Up and Vote campaign to encourage voter participation.
Avery encouraged Booker T. players who were eligible to volunteer at polling places throughout metro Atlanta on Election Day in November. The team also spoke with local legislators to learn more about voting rules.
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Avery is the second Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Year to be selected as the Don Shula NFL High School. Last year, Dalton High School head coach Matt Land won the award in 2019.
Avery and Booker T. Washington High School’s football program will receive $30,000. Avery will also be invited to attend Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.
With Avery’s selection, Falcons are the first organization to have consecutive nominees selected in the award’s history.
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