San Lorenzo Valley’s longtime football coach, Doug Morris, has been named a finalist for the National Football League’s High School Coach of the Year award.
Morris was nominated by 2003 San Lorenzo Valley High School graduate Andy Levitre, an offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills who starred for the Cougars before attending Oregon State University and being drafted to the NFL.
“Coach Morris is a great motivator and a great person,” Levitre wrote in his nomination. “He knows how to bring out the best in his students and players.”
Five finalists were named by the NFL; the four others are in Connecticut, Ohio and Florida. All of the five finalists, including Morris, will receive $2,500 cash and $5,000 grants for their football programs.
The winner, to be announced this week after press time, will attend the Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii and receive a total of $5,000 cash and $10,000 for the football program.
Levitre is not the only one who appreciates Morris’ work at San Lorenzo Valley.
“I can’t measure all the ways he makes a difference at the school,” Principal Michael Arredondo said.
Outside of his coaching duties, Morris is the English department chairman and spent time walking door to door to urge voters to pass Measure O, a recent bond to rebuild the school’s library.
“He does all of these things, and he’s a true advocate for students and for athletics,” Arredondo said. “We’re very, very, very proud.”
The award is from the NFL Youth Football Fund to promote positive development among youth players.
“These five finalists have dedicated their lives to teaching young players how to become leaders both on and off the field,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a prepared statement. “We congratulate them and all high school coaches for the roles they play in helping develop the leaders of our game.”
Levitre was drafted by the Bills in 2009 in the second round as the 51st overall pick. He made the 2009 Sporting News All-Rookie Team and has started 32 consecutive games for the Bills.
