Rick Conner, head football coach at Linganore High School, has been named the 2009 Ravens High School Coach of the Year. Presented by Toyota, this is the 13th year of the Ravens' award program that honors Baltimore-area high school coaches who have made a significant impact on their student-athletes.
In a battle of undefeated teams, Conner led his Linganore team to a 31-14 victory over Huntingtown in the Class 3A Maryland state championship on Dec. 5. After falling in the state championship a year ago, the Lancers returned to M&T Bank Stadium and got redemption in the victory finishing the 2009 campaign at 14-0.
Of note, Lancers K Alex Eckard set a state record when he made a 30-yard field goal, the 24th of his career. FB Zach Zwinak, the 2009 Gatorade Maryland Football Player of the Year, finished with 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The bruising fullback averaged more than 13 yards per carry during the season.
This is the second state title for Conner, who also led the Lancers to the championship in 2003.
Each week during the season, the Ravens honored a high school coach in the Baltimore area. The season's weekly winners (see list below) were present at the Ravens–Lions home game on Dec. 13, for the naming of the Ravens High School Coach of the Year.
A panel of area high school experts selected the coach of the week this season. The recipients received:
- A $2,000 donation to the school's football program
- An award certificate signed by Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
- A specially-designed hat
As the 2009 Ravens High School Coach of the Year, Rick Conner received an additional $4,000 donation towards Linganore's football program.
The Ravens High School Coach of the Year Award has been a fixture in youth athletics since 1997. Previous recipients include Augie Waibel of Poly (1997), Nick Arminio of Eastern Technical (1998), Pete Pompey of Edmondson-Westside (1999), Dominic Damico of McDonogh (2000), Steve Turnbaugh of Hereford (2001), Dave Eubank of Dundalk (2002), Gene Brown of South Carroll (2003), Ben Eaton of Dunbar (2004), Brad Wilson of Westminster (2005), Dante Jones of Edmondson-Westside (2006), Lawrence Smith of Dunbar (2007) and Tony Shermeyer of Century (2008).
2009 Ravens HS Coach of the Week Recipients
Week 1: Corey Johnson, Patterson
Week 2: James McCormick, North Caroline
Week 3: Kyle Schmitt, Atholton
Week 4: Lawrence Smith, Dunbar
Week 5:Donald Davis, Calvert Hall
Week 6: Mark Junker, Chesapeake
Week 7: Rick Conner, Linganore
Week 8: Brian Van Deusen, River Hill
Week 9: Jeff Herrick, Broadneck
Week 10: Bill Waibel, Joppatowne
