Lenape Valley’s Don Smolyn Receives 2020 AFCA Power Of Influence Award
January 12, 2021
Lenape Valley Regional High School Head Coach Don Smolyn has been named the recipient of the 2020 AFCA®/AFCF® Power of Influence Award. Smolyn was nominated by Lenape Valley Regional High School. He was honored today during the virtual 2021 AFCA Convention.
The Power of Influence award was created as a way for the AFCA® and AFCF® to honor a deserving high school football coach. Coaches who receive this award are recognized for their impact on their team, as well as the legacy they leave with the school and surrounding community. This award is not based on wins and losses; however, it should be noted that coaches of powerful influence have longevity and success. This is the first AFCA award specifically designed to honor a high school coach.
Smolyn has been the head coach at Lenape Valley Regional High School for 46 years and has produced 348 victories, which makes him the active wins leader in the state of New Jersey. He has guided Lenape Valley to seven state championships and 12 conference titles and also served as athletics director for 26 years. Through his personal efforts, Smolyn has helped raise over $150,000 to improve the facilities at Lenape Valley and was instrumental in getting Girls’ Soccer, Ice Hockey and Boy’s and Girl’s Lacrosse added to the athletic program.
RELATED ARTICLE: Indiana’s Tom Allen Named 2020 Werner Ladder AFCA FBS National Coach Of The Year
Smolyn also uses his platform to help raise funds for Breast Cancer, Pediatric Cancer and Pancreatic Cancer research. He has also organized a “Relay for Life” event with proceeds going to the American Cancer Association. Smolyn also raises money and support for the Warrior and Family Support Center at Brooke Army Medical Center. In 2018, he helped raise $1,400 for a donation to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Scholarship Fund in honor of Coach Aaron Feis.
Smolyn has won numerous awards during his illustrious career including being named 2003 National Federation of State High School Associations Football Coach of the Year, 2003 John Bateman “Winners for Life Award” from Rutgers University and the Phil Sims North South All Star Football Classic Lifetime Achievement Award, to name a few. He is a member of the New Jersey Football Coaches Hall of Fame, Sussex County Hall of Fame, New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Lenape Valley Hall of Fame and the A.L. Johnson High School Hall of Fame.
Past Power of Influence Award winners include: Larry Dippel, Amarillo (Texas) H.S. (2002); John McKissick, Summerville (S.C.) H.S. (2003); Marcus Borden, East Brunswick (N.J.) H.S. (2004); Ron Stolski, Brainerd (Minn.) H.S. (2005); Sid Otton, Tumwater (Wash.) H.S. (2006); Rob Younger, Sweet Home (Ore.) H.S. (2007); George Smith, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) H.S. (2008); Jim Drewry, Booneville (Miss.) H.S. (2009); Brent Steuerwald, Shenendehowa (N.Y.) H.S. (2010); Noel Dean, Lowell (Mich.) H.S. (2011); Andy Lowry, Columbine (Colo.) H.S. (2012); Bob Burt, Cypress (Calif.) H.S. (2013); Ott Hurrle, Scecina Memorial (Ind.) H.S. (2014); Sam Harrell, Fort Worth Christian (Texas) H.S. (2015); Tony DeMatteo, Somers (N.Y.) H.S. (2016); Allan Trimble, Jenks (Okla.) H.S. (2017); Rick Jones, Greenwood (Ark.) H.S. (2018) and Dave Nelson, Minnetonka (Minn.) HS (2019)
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out insider.afca.com and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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Lenape Valley Regional High School Head Coach Don Smolyn has been named the recipient of the 2020 AFCA®/AFCF® Power of Influence Award. Smolyn was nominated by Lenape Valley Regional High School. He was honored today during the virtual 2021 AFCA Convention.
The Power of Influence award was created as a way for the AFCA® and AFCF® to honor a deserving high school football coach. Coaches who receive this award are recognized for their impact on their team, as well as the legacy they leave with the school and surrounding community. This award is not based on wins and losses; however, it should be noted that coaches of powerful influence have longevity and success. This is the first AFCA award specifically designed to honor a high school coach.
Smolyn has been the head coach at Lenape Valley Regional High School for 46 years and has produced 348 victories, which makes him the active wins leader in the state of New Jersey. He has guided Lenape Valley to seven state championships and 12 conference titles and also served as athletics director for 26 years. Through his personal efforts, Smolyn has helped raise over $150,000 to improve the facilities at Lenape Valley and was instrumental in getting Girls’ Soccer, Ice Hockey and Boy’s and Girl’s Lacrosse added to the athletic program.
RELATED ARTICLE: Indiana’s Tom Allen Named 2020 Werner Ladder AFCA FBS National Coach Of The Year
Smolyn also uses his platform to help raise funds for Breast Cancer, Pediatric Cancer and Pancreatic Cancer research. He has also organized a “Relay for Life” event with proceeds going to the American Cancer Association. Smolyn also raises money and support for the Warrior and Family Support Center at Brooke Army Medical Center. In 2018, he helped raise $1,400 for a donation to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Scholarship Fund in honor of Coach Aaron Feis.
Smolyn has won numerous awards during his illustrious career including being named 2003 National Federation of State High School Associations Football Coach of the Year, 2003 John Bateman “Winners for Life Award” from Rutgers University and the Phil Sims North South All Star Football Classic Lifetime Achievement Award, to name a few. He is a member of the New Jersey Football Coaches Hall of Fame, Sussex County Hall of Fame, New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Lenape Valley Hall of Fame and the A.L. Johnson High School Hall of Fame.
Past Power of Influence Award winners include: Larry Dippel, Amarillo (Texas) H.S. (2002); John McKissick, Summerville (S.C.) H.S. (2003); Marcus Borden, East Brunswick (N.J.) H.S. (2004); Ron Stolski, Brainerd (Minn.) H.S. (2005); Sid Otton, Tumwater (Wash.) H.S. (2006); Rob Younger, Sweet Home (Ore.) H.S. (2007); George Smith, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) H.S. (2008); Jim Drewry, Booneville (Miss.) H.S. (2009); Brent Steuerwald, Shenendehowa (N.Y.) H.S. (2010); Noel Dean, Lowell (Mich.) H.S. (2011); Andy Lowry, Columbine (Colo.) H.S. (2012); Bob Burt, Cypress (Calif.) H.S. (2013); Ott Hurrle, Scecina Memorial (Ind.) H.S. (2014); Sam Harrell, Fort Worth Christian (Texas) H.S. (2015); Tony DeMatteo, Somers (N.Y.) H.S. (2016); Allan Trimble, Jenks (Okla.) H.S. (2017); Rick Jones, Greenwood (Ark.) H.S. (2018) and Dave Nelson, Minnetonka (Minn.) HS (2019)
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out insider.afca.com and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
