The San Diego Chargers of the National Football League honored their high school coaches of the week winners at halftime of their Dec. 6 game against the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium.
Among the weekly award-winners were five Metro Conference coaches: Bonita Vista’s Chris Thompson, Eastlake’s Lee Price, Olympian’s Paul Van Nostrand, Mar Vista’s Tyler Arciaga and Otay Ranch’s Lance Christensen.
The Barons received an added bonus when the Chargers named Thompson as the coach of the year. The BVHS program received an additional donation of $2,500 from the Chargers. Each program received $1,500 for the individual weekly awards.
Thompson was further honored by being named the San Diego Section’s football coach of the year. He said he was “humbled and honored” to receive both awards.
“I have to thank my coaching staff and team for their commitment and hard work they put into this magical season,” he said.
Arciaga lauded the hard work put in by his fellow Metro coaches.
“There were a lot of guys who are fantastic coaches who were honored and it’s humbling to be included,” the MVHS sideline boss explained. “It’s nice that five Metro coaches got recognition because the South Bay can be overlooked at times.
“Coach Van was my social science teacher in ninth grade and Lance was my wife’s master teacher (while a student teacher at Bonita Vista), so there’s a good amount of connections there. I know it’s always nice to get a little boost in the football funds as well with all the expenses that need to be fund-raised.”
The Chargers provided a $63,000 grant this year to Sweetwater High School for weight room and football equipment as part of the team’s Chargers Champions program.
2015 San Diego Chargers
High School Coaches of the Week
Week 2: Chris Thompson (Bonita Vista)
Week 3: Mike Hastings (Point Loma)
Week 4: Gary Blevins (Mira Mesa)
Week 5: Lee Price (Eastlake)
Week 6: Paul Van Nostrand (Olympian)
Week 7: Tyler Arciaga (Mar Vista)
Week 8: Willie Matson (Mission Bay)
Week 9: Matt Oliver (Christian)
Week 10: Will Gray (Kearny)
Week 11: Lance Christensen (Otay Ranch)
Week 12: Ryan Price (University City)
Week 13: Jason Texler (San Marcos)
Week 14: Scott Longerbone (Steele Canyon)
