Cherpak nominated for NFL award

By Jose Negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Thomas Jefferson head football coach Bill Cherpak was announced as the Steelers’ nomination for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award Thursday. 

Cherpak was among 31 other coaches nominated for the award, which is named after the winningest coach in NFL history. 

According to the NFL, the coaches were recognized for their character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player heath and safety and on-field success. 

“It’s definitely an honor,” said Cherpak, who was nominated for the award once before. “I was talking with someone a little earlier and I said with coach Shula, that’s my era and I saw him coach. He is old school, kinda like I am, and I have an appreciation for how he did things and the way things were done back then.

“With the Steelers’ support around here, so few schools and areas have it as good as we have it. That’s what makes it so special to play high school football around here.”

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