The American Football Coaches Foundation was established by the AFCA in 1998 to fund its education mission. Contributions generated by The American Football CoachesFoundation will ensure that the coaching community will continue to have the finest possible professional development and educational tools now and in the future. The AFCF shall engage in a variety of activities to promote and advance education in coaching the game of football at the youth, amateur and recreational levels and shall promote and support generally the sport of amateur or recreational football at the secondary and collegiate levels of education.
The power of a coach’s influence is immeasurable. Located at the national headquarters of the American Football Coaches Association, the Plaza of Influence is a special place where football coaches can be honored by those whose lives they have inspired. Coaches range from the obscure to the nationally known. The common bond is their profound influence on lives-touched and changed. Coaches who might never be in a coaches’ Hall of Fame can be honored in the Plaza of Influence.
In an effort to bring recognition to the outstanding qualities of leadership found in America’s corporate world, the American Football Coaches Foundation Board of Directors created the CEO Coach of the Year Award in 2006. The award honors a corporate CEO who best exemplifies the outstanding leadership qualities also found in the greatest coaches in the game of football. Each year, the award is presented during a dinner held at the historic Waldorf Astoria in New York City. This important fundraising initiative has raised more than $10 million for The Foundation’s mission.
The Foundation holds three different Golf Outings a year as fundraising events to help support the AFCF’s mission and initiatives, experiencing a great deal of success. Football coaches and corporations alike have participated in these one of a kind events. Each of the Golf Outings are followed by a reception and auction.
In 2002, the AFCA and the American Football Coaches Foundation decided to implement a national award for high school head coaches. The Foundation takes great pride in nationally recognizing a high school football head coach who, for a lifetime, has had a powerful influence on his staff, players, and his community. For this prestigious award we ask state high school coaches associations to nominate the most deserving head football coach in their organization.
The essence of the game of football is embodied in "The Spirit of Giving." Coaches give their effort, knowledge, time, talent and resources to those that play the game. The players also give to the game and to each other. The "Spirit of Giving" Award goes to an individual who personifies this unique spirit of giving. It is only awarded when such an occasion arises in which the Executive Director wishes to express gratitude and appreciation to a deserving individual on behalf of the Foundation.
The Randy Walker Power of Influence Golf Outing was developed to be much more than just a fundraising initiative. It is designed to highlight the outstanding leadership education the AFCF provides to coaches at all levels who influence the lives of millions of young people across the nation. Every year, AFCF gives the "Doing Great" Award to a deserving coach who reflects the same leadership and positive influence on the young players as did Coach Randy Walker.
The Texas Coaches Influence Award is given yearly at the Texas Power of Influence Golf Outing. The award honors those who have had a strong and noble influence within the game of football, in Texas. The AFCF honored Head Coach Mack Brown from The University of Texas with the 2013 Texas Coaches Influence Award. In 2010, both Eddie Joseph and DW Rutledge received the award.