Titans honor Bearden’s Wilson as High School Coach of the Week

Professional team will honor state prep coaches on a weekly basis and give out a Coach of the Year award after season The Tennessee Titans announced today that Bill Wilson, head football coach of Bearden High School in Knoxville, has been named as the Titans High School Football Coach of the Week. Wilson’s Bulldogs traveled to Knoxville West High on Aug. 17 and was victorious by a 31-29 margin. It was an emotional win for Wilson because he previously coached at Knoxville West for 27 years and that field is now named in his honor. He retired several years ago from West and this game was his first one back at the field bearing his name. Adding to the emotion was the fact that West High School’s Head Coach Scott Cummings is one of Wilson’s former players and was also an assistant coach under Wilson. Through the Titans Foundation, team owner K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr. will make a $1,000 contribution to the Bearden High School football program in Coach Wilson’s honor. “High school football enjoys a great tradition in Tennessee,” said Adams. “That tradition is based not only on the outstanding quality of play but on the devotion of their coaches who continue to develop high school football players into young men of strong character. I’m very pleased to underwrite this program that recognizes the efforts of so many talented high school coaches across the state!” Coach Wilson will be the team’s guest at the Titans game vs. Jacksonville on December 17 when the team honors all 2006 Coach of the Week winners and announces the winner of the 2006 Coach of the Year! The criterion for selection includes the coach’s impact on his team, school and community. A statewide media panel votes each week to determine the weekly winner. All high school football coaches in Tennessee, regardless of their school’s size, league, or division, are eligible to be selected each week. The program is designed to recognize high school coaches who transform, through their hard work and dedication, student-athletes into the best possible football players and citizens in their community. Also receiving strong consideration in this week’s poll was Vince Belew of Columbia Central High and Kevin Ward of Camden High School. Belew’s team defeated arch-rival Spring Hill 33-30 in his first game following a heart attack he suffered in July. Ward’s Camden High team defeated highly-ranked Huntington last week by 7-6 margin. It was Camden’s first win over Huntington since 1991. “High school football coaches can play a role in the lives of their players that will have lasting results,” Washington says. “A competitive spirit, good sportsmanship and character development are some of the issues confronted on a daily basis by football coaches. We are thankful for the many coaches around the country who assume such a demanding role.” Coach Wilson is now eligible for the Tennessee Titans Coach-of-the-Year award to be announced December 18 when the Titans host the Seattle Seahawks. Adams will make an additional $2,000 grant to that winner. Now in its ninth season, the Titans Coach of the Week program has awarded more than $80,000 to football programs across the state. Media members from across the state select the winner each week.