The Detroit Lions have named Tom Alward of Goodrich High School the 2024 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year. Alward’s Martians defeated the Niles Vikings 35-6 to win the MHSAA Division 4 title, the school’s first football state championship. The Martians, from the Flint Metro League, Stars Division, concluded their season with a 13-game winning streak, finishing 13-1 (the most wins in a single season in school history) and outscored their opponents 570-142 (40.7 pts./10.1 pts.).
Alward completed his 47th season of coaching high school football, having spent the last 32 seasons as head coach at Goodrich High School compiling a 210-117 (64.2%) record. His Martians have made the playoffs 21 times including eight years in a row, won six district championships and two regional crowns while reaching the Division 4 state championship game two of the last three seasons.
Alward has coached high school football since 1977, spending 9 years at Flint Central High School, 5 years at his alma mater, Burton Bendle, and 1 year as an assistant at Goodrich before taking over the Goodrich football program. He was a member of the 1971 national championship team, a two-year starter at guard and 2nd team All Big 8 selection at the University of Nebraska, drafted by the New York Jets in the 6th round (pick 153) of the 1975 NFL draft and became the first player signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976. Alward was enshrined in the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association in 2013 and selected as a Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week during Week 6 of the 2014 season.
Alward was notified of his 2024 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year selection on Head Coach Hangout. See his reaction and the entire interview by visiting www.DetroitLions.com/coachoftheyear.
