Tarboro, N.C. — Tarboro High School football coach Jeff Craddock received a national recognition from the NFL on Sunday.
Craddock was named the runner-up in the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year contest. He will receive $15,000 from the NFL Foundation, $10,000 of which will go to the high school’s football program.
The Carolina Panthers nominated Craddock for the award. Craddock led his Tarboro team to a second straight 1AA state championship last season, posting an unbeaten record for the first time in school history.
In his time at Tarboro, Craddock has coached players like Todd Gurley, running back for the Los Angeles Rams, and Tyquan Lewis, defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts.
Gurley will play in the Super Bowl next weekend as the Rams face the New England Patriots. He is the second Tarboro player to play in a Super Bowl. Kelvin Bryant is the first.
Gabe Infante of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia was named the winner of the award. He has been the head coach at the school since 2010, compiling a record fo 91-23. His teams have won four of the last six state championships. Infante was nominated for the award by the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Teaching and developing football at the youth level is paramount to the future success of the game,” said Don Smolenski, Philadelphia Eagles president. “Gabe’s body of work as a football coach and his commitment to the sport, both on and off the field, is admirable.”
The Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award honors high school football coaches who show high character, integrity, leadership and dedication to the community. The award also recognizes a coach’s commitment to player safety and on-field success.
Each of the 32 NFL teams nominated a high school coach from its area. A panel of judges including Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and several others picked the winner.
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