McKissick receives national award | Local News | Summerville Journal Scene

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McKissick receives national award

Published Friday, February 03, 2012 10:59 AM

By Roger Lee
Summerville Journal Scene ®

Photo by: Jairy C. Hunter, MD/For the Journal Scene

Summerville coach John McKissick has been named the 2011 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year.

Summerville High School Athletic Director and football coach John McKissick has been named the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year.

McKissick, who has more coaching victories under his belt than any other football coach at any level, was announced as the winner of the prestigious award Friday morning at a press conference held at the NFL Motorola Super Bowl Media Center in Indianapolis.

Former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, presented the award.

McKissick, who recently completed his 60^th season as the head football coach for SHS, was nominated for the award by the Carolina Panthers.

During an interview for an article posted to the panhers.com website, McKissick gave the following statement: "Any honor you get like this, you have to share it with all the people that you've surrounded yourself with over the years. This is great for our program and our school, and we've got a town full of great fans that support us. I accept this on everybody else's behalf."

Created in 2010, the award honors exemplary high school football coaches who display the integrity, achievement and leadership demonstrated by the winningest coach in NFL history, Don Shula.

During a banquet Saturday night being held in conjunction with Super Bowl week, McKissick and fellow finalists John Herrington of Farmington Hills High School in Michigan and Hal Lamb of Calhoun High School in Georgia will be honored. That banquet is scheduled to be televised by NBC Saturday beginning at 9 p.m.

McKissick, who has compiled a career record at Summerville of 594-143-13, winning 10 state championships along the way, will also be the NFL’s guest at Sunday’s Super Bowl game.

“I’ve never been to one so I’m excited,” McKissick said. “Whether it’s high school, college or pro ball once you get to the finals the competition is good. Two teams will play for the honor of being named the best in the country so it should be fun to watch.”

Each finalist for the award receives a $2,500 cash award and a $5,000 grant for their high school football program. As the national Shula Award recipient, McKissick will receive a $10,000 cash award and a $15,000 grant.

The selection panel for the award includes some NFL heavyweights as well as recognizable personalities from other walks of life. Panel members include Shula, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Tony Dungy, John Madden, Art Shell, IBM Board Chairman Sam Palmisano and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

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