Dover head football coach Dan Ifft was named one of thirteen Northeast Ohio coaches as candidates for the Cleveland Browns High School Coach of the Year award “after exemplifying top-tier leadership during the 2021 high school football season.
Ifft had one of his most successful seasons in his Crimson Tornadoes tenure in 2021, leading the team to a 9-0 regular-season mark, multiple postseason victories, and an appearance in the Division III, Region 9 Semifinal.
According to a statement released by the Browns on Saturday, all 13 coaches will be recognized with an on-field ceremony at halftime of Sunday’s Browns-Baltimore Ravens game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Dover athletic director Tim McCrate described his head coach in the following statement on Saturday:
“Dan Ifft needs no introduction to football fans in Tuscarawas County and most of northeast Ohio. His integrity, professionalism, and program success precede him. Under his leadership, Dover’s football program has been cemented as one of the premier public school football programs in Division III in the state–qualifying for the playoffs 20 of the 27 years of his tenure. His loyalty and influence in the school and community have been both a unifying factor and a tremendous source of pride for the residents of Dover.”
The winner, which will also be announced at halftime, will receive $5,000 for their high school football program and a custom jersey. He will also be recognized as the 2021 Don Shula NFL Coach of the Year nominee.