USA FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF USA FOOTBALL AWARDS FOR 2023

USA Football announces winners for inaugural awards from more than 1,000 submissions 

INDIANAPOLIS – USA Football, the sport’s U.S. governing body and a Recognized Sport Organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, today announced the winners of USA Football’s Awards for 2023. The nine winners were selected across four awards categories from more than 1,000 submissions.  

“As the sport’s governing body, USA Football is constantly searching for ways to work with and acknowledge the incredible athletes, coaches, leagues, parents and volunteers that are the pillars of grassroots football,” said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. “Our staff was moved by the number of submissions we received for USA Football Awards. Congratulations to all award winners, and thank you to everyone who sent in a nomination. We are proud to work alongside you all as we strive to make football a fun, memorable experience for athletes. Please continue to support your communities with your dedication, kindness and leadership.” 

Timothy Bird of the Simi Valley (Calif.) Bulldogs is USA Football’s Coach of the Year. This award honors a youth football coach who teaches by the principles of the Football Development Model (FDM) and is a positive influence on their athletes.  

Bird demonstrates excellence on and off the field through influence, innovation, leadership and vision. As a coach with the Simi Valley Bulldogs, who earned Gold Level status in USA Football’s League Excellence Program (LEP) in 2022 and 2023, Bird has taught young athletes the importance of teamwork, perseverance and striving to be the best you can be.  

Edward Roldan of the Southeast Bronx Youth Coalition Inc. in New York, N.Y. is USA Football’s Community Hero of the Year. Roldan, who has been coaching for almost 40 years, is an exceptional pillar of the community who creates a lasting, positive impact on and off the field through various programs and initiatives, including The Octavius Bacon Leadership Program, which he developed to teach and promote leadership, community service, academics and mentoring, health and nutrition and football in a non-contact environment.  

Additionally, Roldan helped build relationships with the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and the local NFL teams for the benefit of students. He has also helped members of the community in need through food drives and his “Grades to Play” approach to football registration. Athletes are not charged anything when registering for football, but they must turn in their grades from school.  

Roldan sits on USA Football’s Coach Advisory Council and Education Advisory Council. His program, the Southeast Bronx Youth Coalition Inc., earned Gold Level status through the LEP in 2023.  

The League of the Year award, presented by Riddell, recognizes a youth football organization that provides athletes with a safe, enjoyable football experience by embracing the FDM, following USA Football’s League Excellence Program best practices and certifying coaches. This year’s award winner is the Deforest Area Youth Football League in Deforest, Wisconsin.  

DeForest Area Youth Football League is a growing program that has improved its placement in the LEP in each of the past three years, earning Gold Level status in 2023. It offers flag, padded flag and tackle football to support multiple entry points for athletes. The program also regularly touches base with parents to monitor suggestions and meet the community’s needs.  

USA Football’s Sportsmanship award recognizes a man and woman at the adult level and a boy and girl at both the junior and youth levels. This honor applauds individuals who most exemplify the ideals of sportsmanship on and off the field through acts such as volunteering, fundraising for community projects and participating in mentorship programs. 

Huck Evans of the Verdigris Youth Football Association in Claremore, Okla. and Eliana Vayner of the Sugar Land (Texas) Cowboys are the Sportsmanship winners at the youth level. Both are leaders on and off the field who exemplify the traits the Sportsmanship award promotes. Evans has previously led toy drives around Christmas time to benefit members of his local community.   

Their junior counterparts are Jason Lajara from Brick, N.J. and Kaylin Ramsey from Lutz, Fla., who won gold medals at the 2023 Junior International Cup as part of USA Football’s 15U U.S. Boys’ and Girls’ Flag National Teams. Lajara played quarterback for the National Team, a role he also fills for his high school. Ramsey played quarterback and wide receiver on the National Team. She previously volunteered to help the Special Olympics with an event held in Florida.  

Johnluis "Lulu" Hernandez of Miami, Fla. and Ashlea Klam of Austin, Texas are the men’s and women’s winners for the Sportsmanship award. Hernandez previously played football at Chowan University and was a member of the U.S. Men’s Flag National Team that won gold medals at the 2023 IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship this past July.  

Klam is the youngest member of USA Football’s board of directors, serving as an athlete representative voted on by her peers. She won a gold medal at the 2022 Junior International Cup as a captain of the 17U U.S. Girls’ National Team and helped the 2023 U.S. Women’s National Team claim gold at the IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship. Klam currently plays flag football on scholarship at Keiser University in Florida.  

Please join USA Football in congratulating all award winners. 

About USA Football: USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole US member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes men’s and women’s US National Teams in federation-sanctioned international competition.