Perry's Jones nominated for NFL COY award

January 3, 2017 by Jose Garcia, AZPreps365


The Arizona Cardinals nominated Preston Jones of Perry High for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award.

As one of the 32 NFL high school football coach nominees, Jones was invited to attend the 2017 Pro Bowl festivities in Orlando. The NFL will announce the COY winner on Jan. 29 during the third quarter of the Pro Bowl.

Two of the COY finalists will each receive $15,000, with $10,000 going to each of their high schools. The overall winner will split an additional $10,000 with his school and be recognized during Super Bowl week in Houston in February.

Peyton Manning, Michael Strahan, Don Shula, Tony Dungy, and Condoleezza Rice are on the panel that will select the COY. In 2016, Jones guided Perry to its best ever football season (11-2 record, state semifinalist).

To qualify for the Don Shula NFL HS COY, a candidate must exhibit “character and integrity, leadership and dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.”