The Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week program recognizes 12 high school football coaches across the state of Georgia for their hard work and dedication to making a difference in student-athletes’ lives on and off the field over the course of the season. The final winner of the season is Shawn Jones of Eagle’s Landing High School in McDonough.
Jones was nominated by E. Fay Willis, the booster club president at Eagle’s Landing.
“Coach Jones positively impacts the lives of those he teaches as well as the coaches on his staff,” Willis said in the nomination. “He makes the learning experience fun on and off the field. I nominate him because he instills the love of the game of football to his players.”
In his three seasons as the head of the Golden Eagles, Jones has compiled a 15-16 record and has had a 100 percent graduation rate for his seniors. In 2015, his first year at Eagle’s Landing, the Golden Eagles knocked off No. 5 Jonesboro, 17-7, which was a highlight win in his young career. The 2017 season, however, has been his most successful.
This season, Eagle’s Landing took the No. 3 seed from Region 4-AAAAA into the playoffs and won its first-round game against Whitewater, 45-3. Eagle’s Landing will face a tough Warner Robins team in the second round.
On the field, Jones has the safety of his players in mind and has implemented safer tackling practices to limit injuries for his, and opposing, players.
“He coaches taking the head out of the tackles every chance they get,” Willis said. “Coach Jones is a huge proponent of the ‘Hawk tackle’ drill that has been promoted by many professional and collegiate teams today.”
Philanthropy has also been at the forefront of Jones’ coaching philosophy and his team donates change and proceeds from football games to a worthy cause.
“The football team has participated in a Cure for Childhood Cancer by donating change and proceeds from game activity to the organization,” Willis said.
Each week, one coach will be selected to be the Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week based on his commitment to his team, community and player safety. The winning coach will receive a $1,000 equipment grant, a commemorative football and tickets to an Atlanta Falcons home game.
The window for nominations for the 2017 season ended Nov. 1. Next year, to nominate a coach, go to AtlantaFalcons.com/CoachoftheWeek.
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