NCMFC Awards
Recipients

Click on each picture for full bio!

Willie Jeffries Trailblazer Award

Criteria and Eligibility: This award is given annually to an individual or group whose sustained work in football has advanced the ideals of the Coalition. The award is named in honor of Willie Jeffries who became the first Black head football coach of an NCAA Division I-A football program at a predominantly white college. In addition, he won three Black National Championships and seven Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships on his way to induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. This award is fittingly named after a true coaching legend who had a barrier-breaking run through the highest ranks of football. Likewise, this award will go to the individual or group that has been barrier-breaking on or off the field – a true representation of all Willie Jefferies stood for.

2023 Willie Jeffries Trailblazer Recipient

Kevin Warren

Chicago Bears 

President

2022 Willie Jeffries Trailblazer Recipient

Brian Flores 

Minnesota Vikings 

Defensive Coordinator

2021 Willie Jeffries Trailblazer Recipient

Nick Saban

University of Alabama 

Head Coach

Professional Coach of the Year

Criteria and Eligibility: This award is given annually to a football coach at the professional level. The purpose of this award is to honor a minority coach who has excelled on the field and had an exemplar season or a coach who has used his position to advance diversity in the professional ranks. This honoree demonstrates integrity, character, and excellence both on and off the field.

2023 Professional Coach of the Year Recipient

DeMeco Ryans

Houston Texans 

Head Coach

2022 Professional Coach of the Year Recipient

Leslie Frazier

Buffalo Bills 

Defensive Coordinator

2021 Professional Coach of the Year Recipient

Bruce Arians

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Head Coach

College Coach of the Year

Criteria and Eligibility: This award is given annually to a football coach at the college level. The purpose of this award is to honor a minority coach who has excelled on the field and had an exemplar season or a coach who has used his position to advance diversity in the college ranks. This honoree demonstrates integrity, character, and excellence both on and off the field.

2023 College Coach of the Year Recipient

Deion Sanders

 University of Colorado 

Head Coach

2022 College Coach of the Year Recipient

Mel Tucker

 Michigan State University 

Head Coach

2021 College Coach of the Year Recipient

Jay Norvell

Colorado State University 

Head Coach

High School Coach of the Year

Criteria and Eligibility: This award is given annually to a football coach at the high school level. The purpose of this award is to honor a minority coach who has excelled on the field and had an exemplar season or a coach who has used his position to advance diversity in the high school ranks. This honoree demonstrates integrity, character, and excellence both on and off the field.

2023 High School Coach of the Year Recipient

Ted Ginn Sr.

 Glenville High School (OH) 

Head Coach

2022 High School Coach of the Year Recipient

Messay Hailemariam

 St. Frances Academy (MD) 

Head Coach

2021 High School Coach of the Year Recipient

Michael Peters

McClydmond High School (CA)

 Head Coach

Media Award Presented by KinderCare

Criteria and Eligibility: This award is given annually to a sportswriter, analyst, or commentator who elevates the discussion around greater diversity in football and sports in general. This award recognizes a media figure who has continually championed equity and inclusion at the highest levels of sports.

2023 Media Award Recipient

Shalise Manza Young

 Yahoo! Sports 

National Columnist

2022 Media Award Recipient

Michael Smith

 NBC Sports 

Journalist

2021 Media Award Recipient

Jim Trotter

 The Athletic 

National Columnist

Advocate Award

Criteria and Eligibility: This award is given to an individual or organization that has been a true champion of the NCMFC’s mission to diversify the leadership ranks of football. This individual or organization has been a partner that has gone above and beyond to not only support NCMFC programs, but to also support its individual members in reaching their professional goals.

2023 Advocate Award Recipient

Kevin Plank

Under Armour

Chairman

2022 Advocate Award Recipient

Melvin Powell

SAP 

Regional Vice President

2021 Advocacy Award Recipient

Alonzo Carter

 San Jose State University

Assistant Head Coach and Running Backs Coach