Royal's Wiley Allred wins USA Today's Washington State Best High School Coach Award Contest
Royal High School head football coach Wiley Allred observes as defenders fall back into position on a long sideline play.
The local support for Royal High School's football head coach, Wiley Allred, came through in a big way on Tuesday. The fourth edition of USA TODAY's high school sports "Best Of" contest series wrapped up its state round and crowned the Best High School Football Coach for the first time in the contest's history.
Royal City's coach Allred led all vote getters in Washington State with 22,698 votes.
Next up in the contest will be the regional round, which begins at noon eastern time on Oct. 9, and concludes at noon eastern time on Oct. 18. The eight advancing regional winners will then go on to the national final round, which starts at noon eastern time on Oct. 21, and then final voting will commence at noon eastern time on Oct. 29. The overall champion will be crowned based on total votes received in the final round.
The "Best Of" series began last November with the best high school football rivalry competition, which was won by Brookfield vs. Marceline in Missouri, and the teams celebrated their national championship win with their rivalry game Sept. 13 in Brookfield. In January, the competition continued when Hartford (VT) was awarded the People's Champion high school football team. Then last spring, the top high school mascot contest was won by the Centralia (ILL) Orphans, as 80 million votes were cast during the competition.
Now, the Best High School Football Coach will be crowned, and coach Allred will need the support of the Royal fan-base and the rest of the great football fans in the Basin to support his cause, as he looks to bring the national title to Washington State. The athletic department of the winning coach will receive $2,000, while the top five finishers all will be awarded cash prizes for their respective athletic departments: second place ($1,000), third place ($500), fourth place ($250) and fifth place($100). All eight finalists for the award will receive banners for their schools.
Allred is humbled and honored by the display of support from the Royal fans. Royal fans are always wiling to stand behind coach Allred and the young men who have been a part of this great program.
"Being the smallest school in the competition wasn't a limitation. It was our strength." Allred said.
To show your support log on to http://contest.usatodayhss.com/ and cast your vote.