USA Football set out to honor coaches that have gone above and beyond for the game as the country celebrated the start of the season this past August. These are coaches who have made an indelible mark on their players, because they recognize that football teaches life lessons beyond just X’s and O’s.

The Thanks Coach program honors coaches who have inspired their players to be better, work harder and attain more. With more than 1,000 nominations, there are no shortage of coaches around the country who are making a significant impact on the lives of young people.

Below are 10 finalists and two grand prize winners who change the lives of their players on a daily basis.

Grand Prize Winners

Coach Eric Harris, Douglas Freeman High School and Glen Allen Ravens Youth League
Location: Henrico County, Va.

Harris has been coaching within his community for the past 19 years. However, his impact on individual lives and the community as a whole extends far beyond the football field.

Harris began his professional career in law enforcement but resigned because he wanted to impact young men's lives. Currently, he is the owner of Broken Chain Foundation, a therapeutic mentoring company that works with at-risk youth. A large portion of the program emphasizes athletic or artistic outlets. He has also sponsored hundreds of kids in the Richmond area whose families couldn't afford the fees associated with playing sports.

He also founded a training company that works with many of the area’s top high school football players during the offseason. Harris often takes young men to college camps for exposure while providing mentoring and offering academic help. Seemingly every young man who has trained with him for two years or more is playing college football.

“Dedication is Coach Harris. He's dedicated to the game and more importantly to his players,” wrote the person who nominated Harris.

Coach Isaac Williams, Miami Police Athletic League
Location: Miami

Despite overcoming numerous personal hardships and difficulties, Williams has gone out of his way to positively benefit his players and the community. The coach can often be found spending his mornings at local public schools while checking on students. He often meets with principals and teachers to ensure his student-athletes are successful in the classroom.

Williams also is an instructional advocate for the Touching Miami with Love organization, which is located in the heart of Overtown, a small underserved community. He is driven by an intimate knowledge of the struggles his community is dealing with, as a result of losing three of his older brothers to gun violence in that very community.

“Coach Isaac is only 23 and he loves kids and the kids look up to him and I believe he should be nominated for his hard work and dedication,” said the community member who nominated Williams.

Finalists

Coach Darrell Alt, Green State Academy
Location: Baltimore
Alt was nominated by a former player of his, who learned a tremendous amount during his time playing for Alt.

“During my time we didn't always find our way into the win column, but we learned so many valuable life lessons I wouldn't even think about trading my record for the lessons I learned from him,” wrote the person who nominated Alt.

More recently, the coach is inspiring young men and women at Green State Academy High School. Whether or not you are a member of the football team, Alt is always willing to listen, assist or inspire young individuals at Green State Academy. His unique approach to building relationships with adults and students is unparalleled.  

Coach Jerrold Gilbert, Meadowdale Wee Lions/Belmont Bison
Location: Dayton, Ohio

Coach Gilbert is not only a great coach but also a mentor who goes above and beyond his call of duty. The coach instills work ethic in his players, not just as athletes but as scholars as well. No matter the undertaking, Gilbert and his players shoot for greatness.

A recent story illustrates the coach’s dedication to his young students.

One of his players lost a brother last year. The young man became depressed and his grades slipped. The parent sent one email to the coach and by the afternoon, he was sitting with the young man providing guidance. The coach typed up a list of goals for the young man, who changed completely from that day forward.

Gilbert’s dedication to better the lives of young folks isn’t limited to those who are on his team. He also volunteers to work with the at-risk youth who are in the community’s juvenile system.

“I've never seen or had a coach more compassionate and more dedicated than he is…Nobody is more deserving to be recognized than him,” said the community member who nominated Gilbert.

Coach Sammy Gutierrez, Tamiami Pop Warner League
Location: Miami

Gutierrez has displayed a desire to go above and beyond during his 25 years of coaching in the Miami-area Pop Warner League. He teaches structure, discipline, comradery, good sportsmanship and most importantly, he instills principles that go beyond playing football. The coach ensures all players have good grades before they can play a down of football.

Many of the children who play in the league consider Gutierrez both their favorite coach and a father figure. He is an integral part of the community.

“He is selfless and has dedicated so many years to the park, not only for the love of the sport but for the desire he has to see new generations succeed,” wrote the person who nominated Gutierrez.

Coach Brendan Keegan, Nashua Police Athletic League Football
Location: Nashua, N.H.

Coach Keegan has played football from youth through college; his passion for the sport is quite evident. Even when he took time away from the gridiron to pursue his professional career, he could not stay away for long.

It started seven years ago when Keegan moved to the small town of Nashua and began a flag football league. Since then, Keegan has devoted countless hours to developing leadership qualities in players and helping to build the boys who play for him into upstanding young men. Keegan takes a sincere interest in his players beyond the field and does whatever he can to assist them with any problems they face, whether personal, football-related or academic.

"Our coach leads our boys in much more than football," wrote one parent who nominated Keegan. "He leads them in life."

Coach Ron Krause, Temecula Valley Pop Warner
Location: Temecula, Calif.

Coach Krause brings a team-first attitude to his team that has inspired innumerable young men. He is not one who prefers yelling; instead, his post-practice and postgame huddle pep talks are constructive and encouraging. Whenever a touchdown is scored by the team, Krause will take the score as an opportunity to build unity and brotherhood by reminding the team that, “touchdowns aren't possible without every member of this team doing their job." To reinforce this bond, the coach organizes many in-season and offseason get-togethers.

He inspires these young men both on and off the field as many players look to him for guidance and support in so many areas of their lives. He is the type of coach who will personally call, make home visits or stay after practice to work with a child who is struggling. For many of his players, he is the father figure they don't have in their own lives

“Coach Krause brings unity and a sense of family to the team,” said Krause’s nominator.

Coach Rob Scheidt, Merced High School

Location: Merced, Calif.

Coach Scheidt's tenure at Merced High School as a football coach is the longest in the school’s history. He has built a community atmosphere that inspires those who come into contact with him. Many former players have returned to Merced as either coaches or teachers. The coach has had tremendous success on the field, including four league championships from 2002-2008. However, it is the off-the-field work that makes Scheidt special.

Scheidt's current team started an organization named Bears Give Back, which is led by a player that Scheidt once mentored. The organization performs countless hours of community service activities, such as feeding the homeless, creating gifts for the less fortunate during the holidays, conducting study groups for low achieving students and more.

“[Scheidt’s] overall leadership has proven invaluable to this school, its staff and our community,” said the community member who nominated him.

Coach Bob Schembre, Mid-East Missouri Home School Football Association
Location: St. Louis

Simply put, without coach Bob Schembre, the Mid-East Missouri Home School team would not exist. The organization is in its fourth year and currently touts two divisions: varsity and middle men. The team is unique, as it is comprised of homeschooled young men who would otherwise not have the opportunity to enjoy the sport of football at the varsity level.

“The way he works with our young men, teaching them proper technique while instilling a brotherhood these homeschooled boys would never otherwise experience, is a blessing to our community,” said the parent who nominated Schembre.

Coach Lonny Schraeder, Sacred Heart High School           
Location: Hattiesburg, Miss.

Coach Lonny Schraeder has a unique backstory, one that would make many people quit. The coach was hit by a drunk driver during his first year in college. This resulted in doctors amputating both of his legs. The passenger in Schraeder’s vehicle, who was a close friend, died as a result of his injuries. The traumatic experience did not preclude Schraeder from graduating college and following his dream to teach and coach young adults.

Schraeder is an inspiration to every young man he coaches and the impact he has made over the last thirty years has greatly benefited young men within the community.

“Lonny Schraeder is like a second father to me. He believed in me as a high school football player and believes in me as a man,” wrote the person who nominated Schraeder.

Coach Chris Stephenson, Mt. Dora High School 
Location: Mt. Dora, Fla.

The Hurricanes had fallen of difficult times. Four different coaching staffs in the span of four seasons created an unstable environment. Most recently, the third coach quit on the team three weeks prior to the team’s spring game. It was the final blow; the young men lost faith in any coach who tried to resuscitate the program. Enter Chris Stephenson, originally hired as a social studies teacher, who had coaching experience and applied for the vacancy.

The impact of the new head coach on the players, the team, the school and the community has been profound. Since his hiring, there is a new atmosphere around the team. The community pitched in to help revitalize the stadium and there is excitement around a program that for a long time had none.

“A true godsend!  He was just what we needed to get our school, team and community back into the game,” wrote one parent on Stephenson’s nomination.

Coach Jason Stravers, Okinawa Youth Football
Location: Okinawa, Japan

Coach Jason Stravers is an active duty U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan. The Marine selflessly dedicates his time to the development of the military community’s youth through coaching the Camp Courtney Yellow Jacket 12-14-year-old football team. Many children of active military members often do not get the opportunity to play organized sports. Stravers inspires young men by treating them like adults, which ensures they will be prepared to play at the next level when they return to the states.

He instills discipline by ensuring academics are more important than athletics. He encourages community-oriented volunteering and even organizes beach clean-ups and other events to inspire the young athletes to give back. Even during the offseason, he is inspiring young men by facilitating workouts and training sessions to keep young athletes active.

“He is a selfless leader in the community that embodies the concept of a village raising a child,” said a fellow coach.