DENVER —The Denver Broncos named Dean Huffman of Manual High School as their NFL High School Coach of the Week presented by the Colorado National Guard. The Manual Thunderbolts beat city rival Denver North Friday afternoon 26-17 to improve to 3-0 on the season, the school's first three-win season since 2004.
"It's really spectacular," Huffman said. "We had to get rid of the belief that they were going to lose."
Huffman has an extensive coaching resume and has been coaching Colorado high school football since 1985. He is in his first season with the Thunderbolts after spending two years as the head coach of the Sierra Stallions.
Running back Elijah Huff rushed for 297 yards on 38 carriers, tallying three touchdowns against Denver North in the win. Huff now has 641 yards and 11 touchdowns through three games this season. Devante Swain racked up 14 tackles for the Thunderbolts on Friday.
Huffman, 56, is an Arvada, Colo. native and graduated from Arvada High School in 1978. He was an offensive guard at Western State Colorado University from 1980-83 and played in the 1982 and 1983 NAIA Division I championship games. Huffman graduated from Metro State in 1986 with degrees in biology and chemistry, and continued his education at the University of Phoenix where he earned a master's in education administration. He now teaches chemistry and physics at Manual High School.
The Denver Broncos will recognize 10 High School Coach of the Week honorees during the regular season, as well as a Coach of the Year at the end of the season. The program is presented by the Colorado National Guard with a selection committee led by The Denver Post's Neil Devlin. The committee also includes Broncos Ring of Fame defensive back Billy Thompson and 850 KOA's Andy Lindahl.
Each weekly winner will receive a $2,000 donation made possible by the NFL Foundation and the Colorado National Guard to be used by the school's football program. Additionally, the Coach of the Year will be honored and presented with a $4,000 donation to the respective school's football program during the Broncos' home game on Dec. 28 against the Oakland Raiders.
