DETROIT — Ford Field was rocking Saturday night during the Detroit Lions’ 42-17 rout of the Denver Broncos.
One could not have picked a better setting to recognize high-achieving high school football coaches from across the state.
During an on-field ceremony prior to the Lions game, nine Michigan high school football coaches were saluted for being selected a Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week for the 2023 regular season.
At halftime, Muskegon’s Shane Fairfield was honored at midfield for being voted the Lions High School Football Coach of the Year. Fairfield guided the Big Reds to their first state title since 2017 with a 33-21 victory over Warren De La Salle at Ford Field. Muskegon rebounded from an 0-2 start and finished 12-2, much like the Big Reds recovered from a 21-7 halftime deficit against De La Salle in the finals.
North Muskegon’s Larry Witham was selected Lions High School Coach of the Week in Week 6. Witham wound up leading the Norsemen to a 12-1 overall record and berth in the Division 7 state semifinals. The Norse rolled to a second straight West Michigan Conference Rivers Division title and first 9-0 regular season since 1986. They captured district and regional titles.
CatchMark SportsNet’s Scott DeCamp has served on the Lions High School Coach of the Week/Coach of the Year panel for several years. He was part of Saturday night’s ceremony as well.
Watch the video at the top of this story to see Fairfield and Witham celebrated at the Lions-Broncos game Saturday. Click the links in the copy above for respective CatchMark stories on Fairfield and Witham.
