The New York Jets announced today that Bruce Cunningham of Wilton High School in Wilton, CT, has been named this week's recipient of the New York Jets High School Coach of the Week award presented by Chase. Through Chase's partnership, the monetary award to benefit the school's football program has doubled to $2,000. Coach Cunningham will be presented with a certificate and award ball. In addition, he is invited to watch the New York Jets play the Buffalo Bills on January 1st in Chase's suite at MetLife Stadium.
In its 21st year, the Coach of the Week award is given to a coach in the Tri-State area who serves the best interests of the game through the teaching of sound football fundamentals, the motivation of young players to achieve and the promotion of youth football by way of dedication to their community, their school and their student-athletes.
Cunningham attended Greenwich High School in Connecticut, where he started on the offensive line. As a junior, Cunningham and his team won the Connecticut state championship. After graduating high school in 1983, he enrolled at Eastern Connecticut State University. Cunningham is in his 31st season of coaching, spending 19 years at Wilton High School and the last seven as head coach of the program. In addition to his coaching duties, Cunningham serves as a health and physical education teacher for Wilton High School.
On Saturday, October 22nd, the Wilton Warriors shut out the Stamford Black Knights, 18-0, lifting their record to 4-2 for the season. Their next game will be at home against the Darien Blue Wave on Saturday, October 29th at 1:30 p.m.
Previous Award Winners:
Week 1: Ryan Horan, Montclair Immaculate Conception High School, Montclair, NJ
Week 2: Ryan Baldock, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY
Week 3: Rick Punzone, Babylon High School, Babylon, NY
Week 4: Keith Hellstern, Fairfield College Preparatory School, Fairfield, CT
Week 5: Keith Migliorino, Northern Highlands High School, Allendale, NJ
Week 6: Michael Lynch, Hendrick Hudson High School, Montrose, NY
Week 7: Kevin Shippos, Massapequa High School, Massapequa, NY