Detroit City Wire

Paul Reid, head coach at Saginaw Valley Lutheran High School, has been named the Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week for week eight of the 2025 season. The recognition comes after his team, the Chargers, defeated Tawas 49-0, bringing their record to 8-0. This victory set a new single-season wins record for Valley Lutheran and secured their first Tri-Valley Conference Blue Division championship in school history. The team is currently ranked sixth in Division 7 and will play Unionville-Sebewaing on October 24.

Reid, who has coached high school football for over four decades and is a Navy veteran, is in his fourth year as head coach at Valley Lutheran with a current record of 19-17. He previously served as head coach at Sanford Meridian and St. Louis. Under his leadership, Valley Lutheran will reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time.

Detroit Lions Football Education interviewed Reid about his long coaching career, growth in patience and coaching ability, focus on sportsmanship, and how building a strong program depends on surrounding oneself with good people. Reid learned about his selection during an episode of Head Coach Hangout. The interview and announcement are available at www.DetroitLions.com/coachoftheweek.

The Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week Program recognizes coaches each week during the regular season who show success on the field while developing players’ character and emphasizing health and safety. Winners are chosen by a panel of local high school football media members: Mick McCabe (retired Detroit Free Press writer), Hugh Bernreuter (Saginaw News), Bret Bakita (WOOD Radio-106.9 FM, 96.1 FM-The Game, Fox 17/Grand Rapids), James Cook (Traverse City Record-Eagle), and Scott DeCamp (DeCamp Creative Solutions).

This year’s program will distribute $12,000 to support high school football development across Michigan through contributions from the Detroit Lions, NFL Foundation, and Carhartt. Each weekly winner receives a $1,000 donation to their school's football program. At season’s end, one coach will be named Coach of the Year with an additional $3,000 award for their program. All honorees receive certificates signed by Lions' head coach Dan Campbell and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Now in its 29th year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program has awarded $515,000 to high school football programs throughout Michigan.

For more information about the program or to contact Chris Fritzsching, Executive Director of Football Education for the Lions: chris.fritzsching@lions.nfl.net.