NFL Announces 2024 Don Shula High School Coaches of the Year

The NFL has named Brownsburg High School’s John Hart and Slinger High School’s Bill Jacklin as the AFC and NFC recipients of the 2024 NFL Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award.

The coaches will be celebrated by their local NFL clubs for the prestigious award named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. The coaches were judged based on characteristics and character traits Coach Shula exhibited during his career – character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety, and on-field success. 

Nominated by the Indianapolis Colts, Hart led Brownsburg to the state championship, their first since 1985, and became the first head coach in Indiana high school football history to win a state championship with three different schools. He previously won with Evansville Reitz (2007) and Warren Central (2009). Hart has coached Brownsburg for nine seasons and has a record of 82-19 with the Bulldogs. In addition to  the state championship  in 2024, he also won sectional championships in 2021 and 2022.

“I am thankful, humbled, and honored to have been nominated by the Indianapolis Colts for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award,” said Hart.  “I will be forever grateful to Brownsburg High School and the Brownsburg community for trusting, believing, and supporting my staff as well as the past and present football players. I would like to thank the Indianapolis Colts for their continued support of promoting high school football in the state of Indiana. Not too many years ago, Mr. Irsay, Coach Dungy, Peyton Manning, and the entire Colts organization created an environment that has helped make high school football in Indiana more than just a game.”

Nominated by the Green Bay Packers, Jacklin, in his 14th season as head coach of Slinger High School, led the Owls to a perfect 14-0 season and a WIAA Division 2 state championship in 2024. He was also named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA)/Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Year. Jacklin grew up in Slinger, Wis., and graduated from Slinger High School in 1988, where he played offensive guard and linebacker. Jacklin attended Cardinal-Stritch University, then earned his master's degree in principal and curriculum from Cardinal-Strich in 2002.

"I am deeply honored to accept the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, a recognition that stands for character, leadership, and dedication to community,” said Jacklin. “This achievement is not mine alone—it represents the dedication, passion, and hard work of every individual within our Slinger Football Family. ‘All In as One’ has been more than a motto; it’s the foundation of our success."