| NEW YORK – Jan. 30, 2026 – The NFL has named Palisades Charter High School’s Dylen Smith (California) and Garden City High School’s Dave Ettinger (New York) as the AFC and NFC recipients of the 2025 NFL Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award presented by Jersey Mike’s.The NFL recognizes the top high school coach from each conference as nominated by their respective NFL clubs. The award – named in honor of the late Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history – is given to the high school football coaches that best represent character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player protection and on-field success.Nominated by the Los Angeles Chargers, Coach Smith exemplifies the true spirit of the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award, leading his team through the face of extraordinary adversity. Earlier this year, devastating fires destroyed Palisades’ football field, facilities, and equipment, stripping the program of its home and resources. With no permanent place to practice or play, the team was forced to travel daily to different locations, often using minimal or borrowed equipment, and sometimes none at all. Despite these challenges, Coach Smith never allowed circumstances to define his players’ potential. Instead, he transformed chaos into opportunity, instilling resilience, discipline, and belief within his team. Through constant uncertainty and displacement, he created stability through his leadership. The results were remarkable, as Palisades completed a perfect 10–0 regular season and advanced to the playoffs, a testament not only to athletic success, but to heart, unity, and character. “I am honored and humbled to accept the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, an award that reflects the unwavering dedication our entire program has put in throughout a year filled with undoubtable adversity,” said Smith.” Coaching is the way I can show love. It is my way of giving back because so many people poured into me and my brothers and sister when we were young. My satisfaction comes from changing kids’ lives and hopefully they’ll pay it back at some point down the road, too. Football is a microcosm of life.”Nominated by the New York Giants, in his 11th season as head coach of Garden City High School, Dave Ettinger led his team to a 12-0 season. Throughout his 11 years as head coach, he has a 119-3 record. Coach Ettinger’s love of coaching, and commitment to his student athletes has translated into the most dominant winning streak that New York State football has ever witnessed. On November 21, despite losing two players, including their quarterback, they defeated Long Beach High School 27-12 to win their 10th straight Nassau Conference II championship, and the 30th in the school’s proud history. On November 29, Garden City defeated East Islip (10-2) at Stony Brook University by a score of 10-7 to win their 5th consecutive Long Island Class II Championship and finished the season 12-0. The title is Garden City’s 13th Long Island football championship in school history.”I am incredibly grateful to accept the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, an honor that represents teamwork, sportsmanship, and character,” said Ettinger. “My life off the field has been as a constant teacher, shaping both who I am as a person and how I approach coaching. We celebrate selflessness — making the extra block, supporting a teammate, handling adversity with composure. Our athletes learn that how you win matters as much as winning itself, and that the lessons gained through effort and responsibility extend far beyond football. Ultimately, our mission is for every student-athlete to leave our program as a better leader, a better teammate, and a better person.”All 32 NFL teams selected a nominee for the award, which was then chosen by a panel featuring Pro Football Hall of Famers Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, Executive Director of USA Football Scott Hallenbeck and Dave Shula, NFL legend and son of the late coach Shula, among others.”Coach Smith and Coach Ettinger are leaders who inspire, uplift and positively shape the lives of young people, representing the very best of high school football coaches,” said Alexia Gallagher, NFL VP of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation. “Their commitment to their players and communities reflects the values at the heart of the Don Shula Coach of the Year Award, and the NFL Foundation is proud to celebrate the incredible role they play in the lives of countless student-athletes.”The NFL Foundation, in partnership with Jersey Mike’s, will honor Smith and Ettinger as the 2025 Don Shula NFL High School Coaches of the Year and each will receive $15,000 for their high school football programs and a $10,000 cash prize. They will both be guests of the NFL at the 2026 Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area and be recognized at NFL Honors.###Media Contact: Kyra Plourde, Kyra.Plourde@NFL.comAbout Play FootballThe NFL celebrates youth and high school football year-round. Through camps, activities, NFL FLAG and tackle leagues, the Play Football initiative provides a fun and engaging experience for players of all ages and skill levels, equipping young people with key life skills that are building blocks to success on and off the field. Play Football works to shape the football experience, advocate for safety, promote football values and connect football communities. For more information, featured football stories, best practices and resources aimed to create a positive playing experience, please visit PlayFootball.nfl.com or follow @PlayFootball. Join the conversation on social media using #PlayFootball.About NFL FoundationThe National Football League Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation and its members, the 32 NFL clubs, support the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. Over the past 50 years, the NFL Foundation has become one of the leading philanthropic entities in America, contributing to NFL team communities, national and international disaster relief efforts, and societal issues. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org. |
