The Washington Redskins announced Sept. 21 that head football coach DaLawn Parrish of Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr., Senior High School in Upper Marlboro, Md., has been named Redskins High School Coach of the Week for the week of September 14, 2009.
The Redskins High School Coach of the Week program is designed to recognize and reward excellence in high school football coaching.
Coach Parrish has been coaching at Wise for four years. His main goal is to emphasize the importance of character and having a positive attitude.
"Coach Parrish is the director of our In -School Suspension Program. This allows him to mentor, provide positive guidance and direction to students who have disciplinary problems. His interactions with these young men and women provide them with a role model so that their behaviors and attitudes can change for the betterment of their future" said Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr., Senior High School Athletic Director O.J. Johnson.
He also spends time speaking to local Boys and Girls Clubs. His guidance also extends to the football team. The student-athletes often talk to their schoolmates and community members about following the right path and the importance of getting an education. The team also volunteers their time to provide maintenance and yard work throughout the community.
The Pumas have gone from 2-8 in Coach Parrish's first season to 9-4 last season. The Pumas are currently 2-0 this season and ranked 6th in the Max Preps poll for the state of Maryland.
Each week during the 2009 high school football season, the Redskins select one area high school head coach as the Redskins High School Coach of the Week. The selection is based on the coach's continuing commitment towards promoting youth football, developing motivated student-athletes, his overall community involvement and overall team performance and record.
Each of the coaches chosen throughout the high school season will receive a $1,000 donation from NFL Charities to their football program and a framed certificate signed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Redskins Head Coach Jim Zorn.
