THE APEX TIMES
Chiefs Honor Carrollton’s Kirk Thacker and Bishop Miege’s Jon Holmes as Week 7 High School Coaches of the Week
Kansas City recognized two head coaches on Oct. 21, awarding them grants and sending them toward the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association’s Eric Driskell Coach of the Year race.
The Kansas City Chiefs named Carrollton High School head coach Kirk Thacker and Bishop Miege High School head coach Jon Holmes as the Week 7 high school Coaches of the Week recipients for the 2026 season, announced Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Thacker’s Carrollton Trojans entered the week with a 7-1 record, and they were undefeated at home following a 54-46 win over the Holden Eagles on Friday, Oct. 16. The release also said Carrollton’s victory was its first over Holden since 2020 and its highest-scoring output of the season to that point.
Bishop Miege, led by Holmes, earned the Kansas selection after extending its winning streak to seven with a 45-14 win over the Blue Valley North Mustangs on Friday, Oct. 17. The release said the Stags were undefeated through Week 7 and that their 2026 group had been producing at a high level offensively and defensively through seven games.
As part of the recognition, both coaches are set to receive a $1,000 grant from the Hunt Family Foundation, along with a Chiefs bucket hat, a certificate of recognition and a custom game ball. The Chiefs release also said they qualify for the Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award, selected at the end of the high school regular season by a panel from the Missouri and Kansas boards of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association.
The Chiefs described the program as a joint initiative with the NFL that highlights head coaches from Missouri and Kansas each week, emphasizing how they prepare student-athletes for life beyond football. The release credited PrepsKC and partnership with Uncrustables as the presenting sponsor.
Why It Matters
- The Chiefs’ weekly honor spotlights leadership at the high school level in the Chiefs’ home region, with two coaches recognized each week from Missouri and Kansas.
- Both programs being cited as undefeated through Week 7 sets up a strong local narrative for an award race that runs through the regular season.
- The $1,000 grants and playoff-style “coach of the year” pathway add tangible incentives beyond game-week publicity.
Key Facts
- Kansas City Chiefs announced Week 7 high school Coaches of the Week on Oct. 21, selecting Kirk Thacker (Carrollton, Missouri) and Jon Holmes (Bishop Miege, Kansas).
- Carrollton is reported at 7-1 and undefeated at home after a 54-46 win over Holden on Oct. 16.
- Bishop Miege is reported as 7-0 and undefeated through Week 7 after a 45-14 win over Blue Valley North on Oct. 17.
- Both coaches will receive a $1,000 grant from the Hunt Family Foundation plus additional recognition items.
- Both Thacker and Holmes qualify for the Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award, chosen after the high school regular season.