Tyler Legacy High School is a State Finalist for the 2021-22 National Football Foundation (NFF) High School Academic Excellence Award. The Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) and 29 other state high school associations recognize the importance of honoring programs that demand excellence on the football field and in the classroom. Teams must have a 3.0-grade point average or above to qualify as state finalists.
"We commend the football staff at Tyler Legacy for supporting their athletes in the classroom and also taking the time to nominate their team for this prestigious award," Director of Public Relations & Activation for the THSCA Tyler Watts said. "At a time when students need the support of their teachers and coaches the most, their football staff's dedication to developing the whole child is applauded."
The award is the first nationwide recognition honoring individual high school football teams for excellence in the classroom. Thirty total state high school associations are currently participating across the country. THSCA honors 84 different high schools in Texas as State Finalists for the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award.
"There are several reasons I am thankful and proud of this statewide acknowledgment," Legacy Football Head Coach Joe Willis said. "Our program as one of the top academic performers in Texas is an accomplishment that first starts with the commitment from principal Dr. Kristen Walls and our teachers. Their partnership with our coaches and players has ensured that our student-athletes have made this incredible academic jump. For that commitment, we are very thankful!"
The academic progress efforts of Coach Riley Claxton and Assistant Head Coach Jason Pitts, who put together the nomination, were also praised by Willis.
"Without the commitment to academics and the tracking that our coaches did, it would not have been possible to see the kind of growth we had in the classroom over the past year."
A part of the nomination process also considered the community service impact of the Tyler Legacy football team. Players are conscious of the commitment to serve and partner with our community, seeking out opportunities to connect with projects in Tyler. The Tyler Legacy football program strives to provide successful student outcomes toward the next step in their lives on the path of becoming successful citizens.
A State Champion and National Champion awards will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.