The NFL on Thursday announced the high school football coaches nominated by the 32 NFL teams for the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, and Liberty High School coach Colin Thomas earned Arizona’s nod to represent the Cardinals.

Thomas led the Peoria-based Lions to the 2023 Open Division State Championship this past month. Liberty beat its Peoria rival, Centennial, 33-21, to clinch the title, finish the season with a 12-1 record, and end the year ranked No. 16 nationally.

The coaches were judged based on areas in which Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, excelled most during his career – character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success, an NFL press release explains.

“It is exciting to celebrate the nominees from each NFL club; all 32 represent the integrity, commitment and character of Coach Don Shula,” Roman Oben, vice president of football development, shared. “High school football coaches help mold the lives of young high school players both on and off the field. They serve as leaders and role models, and this group represents the very best every year.”

The NFL will recognize one winner from the region near an NFL Club in each conference, AFC and NFC. These two winners will be invited to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando on Sunday, Feb. 4 and will be recognized during the NFL’s weeklong celebration.

Throughout the week, coaches will receive VIP access and accommodations to attend the Pro Bowl Games practices for both conferences, on-field access on Sunday for the culmination of the Pro Bowl Games, and a chance to interact and engage with various members of the football community.

The NFL Foundation and Nike have teamed up to provide the two winners a $15,000 award for their high school football programs and a $10,000 cash award. The other 30 club nominees will all receive a $1,000 cash award.

The two winners will also attend Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas as special guests of the NFL.

The Don Shula Award winners will be announced in the week prior to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, televised at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 on ESPN, ABC, Disney XD, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes. The winners will also be recognized and walk the red carpet at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, on CBS.

The Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year winners are selected by a panel of distinguished individuals, including Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy, and Dave Shula, former NFL coach and son of Don Shula.