Wiley Allred has already had a pretty memorable winter. The Royal High School football coach led the Knights to a Class 1A state title in December, then later that month was named the Seattle Seahawks High School Coach of the Year.
Allred received that award, which is sponsored by UnitedHealthCare, during a halftime ceremony during a Seahawks game and he received a $2,000 grant. He and other 2017 Washington state championship coaches also raised the 12 flag prior to kickoff of Seattle's Week 15 game vs. the Rams.
Now, Allred is headed to Super Bowl LII as one of two finalists for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award. All 32 NFL teams nominate a coach for their character and integrity, leadership and dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.
From those 32 nominees, Allred and Crenshaw High School's Robert Garrett (Los Angeles Chargers) were selected as finalists. The winner will be announced during Sunday's Pro Bowl, and that coach will be recognized and walk the red carpet at NFL Honors the night before Super Bowl LII. Both finalists will travel to Minneapolis for Super Bowl LII. Each finalist receives $15,000 from the NFL Foundation, $10,000 of which will go to their high school's football program.
Six high school football state championship-winning head coaches from Washington — Almira-Coulee-Hartline's Brandon Walsh, Kalama's Sean McDonald, Royal's Wiley Allred, Hockinson's Rick Steele, O'Dea's Monte Kohler, and Richland's Mike Neidhold — raised the 12 Flag prior to the Seahawks' Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Rams at CenturyLink Field.
