Witten continues dream season… Cyclone coach pegged as Tennessee Titans High School Coach of the Year
Published 6:17 am Wednesday, December 11, 2019
- Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton head coach Shawn Witten holds the coach's State Championship plaque on Saturday after the Cyclones captured the BlueCross Bowl 4-A Championship. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Witten was selected as the Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year for 2019.
NASHVILLE – Shawn Witten of Elizabethton High School has been named the 2019 Tennessee Titans High School Coach of the Year after leading his football team to a 15-0 season and winning the Class 4A state championship.
Coach Witten is 121-41 in 13 seasons at Elizabethton. Witten outscored his opponents 181-46 in the postseason, including a 30-6 win over Springfield in the Class 4A Blue Cross Bowl. The 2019 title is the first state championship for both Coach Witten and Elizabethton under the TSSAA’s modern playoff format that was established in 1969.
“Shawn Witten is a great coach who we are proud to recognize,” said Josh Corey, Tennessee Titans Football Outreach Manager. “In his 13 seasons at Elizabethton, he has created a strong program that embodies many of the qualities that we celebrate at the Tennessee Titans.
“The success that he and his team have had this season, culminating in a State Championship title, speak to the hard work and dedication that they devote to their craft. We look forward to the continued success of Coach Witten and the Cyclones.”
As the 2019 Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year, Witten will receive a grant in the amount of $2,000 from the Titans Foundation to benefit his football program, as well as an all-expense-paid trip to the 2020 Pro Bowl in Orlando, Fl.
Coach Witten’s selection also qualifies him for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award, honoring high school football coaches that display the integrity, achievement, and leadership exemplified by the coach with the most wins in NFL history, Don Shula.
The Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award winner – announced in January – receives $10,000 and his high school football program is awarded $15,000.
The Titans’ High School Coach of the Year award is an extension of the High School Game of the Week and Coach of the Week programs.
Each Coach of the Week (11 total) received a grant from the Tennessee Titans in the amount of $1,000 to benefit his school’s football program. All 12 award winners – 11 Coach of the Week winners and the Coach of the Year – will be recognized during the Titans vs. Saints game on Sunday, December 22.
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“Behind every great coach is a great team and great coaches,” said Witten at the high school on Tuesday. “I would have much rather Bryson (Rollins) won Mr. Football than myself getting the Coach of the Year.
‘I think he is more deserving of it and as much of time as a head coach you try to make an impact on your players but a lot of times that make an impact on you.
“The whole season has been a blessed situation for me.”
Witten was asked how much more special the award was coming from a professional team like the Titans.
“There are so many coaches are so deserving and probably some coaches that have tougher situations than we do here at Elizabethton but I think that the people Saturday witnessed there is something special about this community and after 81 years the community is deserving,” Witten said.
“My award is not an individual award by no means. I have nothing if I don’t have the support from our community and our school and our players as well as the assistant coaches. It’s been a great year and we just keep piling it on.
“I am more disappointed that Bryson didn’t get Mr. Football because we proved we were the best football team in 4-A and he deserved that award.”
Witten went on to credit his family including his wife Katie and his children along with his brothers, mother, and grandparents for helping to instill in him the values that make him the man and the coach he is today.
