For the second year in a row, Kimberly head coach Steve Jones is heading to Orlando, Fla., for the NFL Pro Bowl, as the Packers’ nomination for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year.
Along with nominees from all 32 NFL teams, Jones will take part in the festivities at the 2018 Pro Bowl, as well as partake in a special coaches’ clinic, attend practices and attend the USA Football National Conference.
"You know I get my name attached to it, but really it's a team effort," Jones said. "So to get this two years in a row is unbelievable, and I think what the NFL's doing to celebrate high school coaches is really a special thing so I'm excited to get back down to Orlando."
The Papermakers have the nation's longest winning streak with 70 straight victories, but Jones says perspective on coaching and how other programs succeed is a huge takeaway from the clinics and conversations with fellow high school coaches.
"I get to interact with a lot of the other coaches, which I thought was the best part, being able to collaborate and talk to coaches from all over the United States and hear different stories and hear their philosophies and, you know, it wasn't a lot of X's and O's talk," said Jones. "It was about culture and program development and that was really a cool opportunity to get to know those coaches from everywhere around the United States. Sometimes when you're in Wisconsin, you know we have awesome coaches here, but you don't get to hear all these different things that other coaches go through throughout the United States."
Jones was one of two finalists last year, earning $10,000 for the football program. This year’s Don Shula Award winner will be announced during the third quarter of the 2018 Pro Bowl on Sunday.
