Detroit Lions Honor Farmington High Football Coach

The Detroit Lions have named football coach John Bechtel as the week two recipient of the 2012 High School Coach of the Week Program.   

Bechtel led his Falcons to a 14-6 victory over #9-ranked Southfield on August 31 to run the Falcons record to 2-0. In his 15th season as a head coach, 14 of them with Farmington High, Bechtel has a career record of 74-67. He has led Farmington to all eight of the school’s playoff appearances, including the last four seasons in a row. 

This Friday, the Falcons will look to improve to 3-0 as they go on the road to take on Southfield-Lathrup at 7 p.m.

In addition to his accomplishments on the field, Bechtel is proactive when it comes to promoting player health and safety within his school. He personally reviews all paperwork and physicals of every student-athlete in the football program to provide himself a thorough background of the individual. 

Bechtel emphasizes proper hydration with his student-athletes and monitors their water intake. In addition, all Farmington High football players are required to sign a “Concussion Contract”, a document which acknowledges the student-athletes and their parents recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion. These student-athletes are given a baseline concussion test at the beginning of the year. 

Each week throughout the 2012 nine-week high school football regular season, the Detroit Lions will recognize one coach that best develops his players’ character, discipline, and football skill in addition to emphasizing player health and safety in their program, will be recognized for his commitment to the team, school, and community. The winner is selected by a panel of high school football media members.

This season’s program will award $22,000 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 National Football League and presenting sponsor, Michigan Army National Guard.

Each winning coach throughout the regular season will receive a $2,000 donation to his school’s football program. All weekly winners will be honored at an awards ceremony during the Lions-Bears game at Ford Field on Dec. 30. During the ceremony, the Lions will also introduce the High School Coach of the Year, who will receive a $4,000 donation to his team’s football program.

In addition to the monetary award, all winners receive a certificate signed by Lions’ head coach Jim Schwartz and National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell.  Winning coaches also receive a personalized game ball and a Detroit Lions “Coach of the Week” hat.

Source: Detroit Lions press release