Josh Lindeman of Manchester High School Named Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week for Week 7
The Detroit Lions named Josh Lindeman of Manchester High School the 2026 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week for Week 7, the team announced Oct. 13. Lindeman’s Flying Dutchmen defeated Vandercook Lake on Oct. 9 to improve to 6-1, and Manchester is scheduled to host Hanover-Horton on Oct. 17 for the Cascades Conference Championship in the programs’ 41st meeting, the team said. The award is presented by Carhartt.
Lindeman is in his 22nd season coaching high school football and in his third season as Manchester’s head coach, the Lions said. He spent time as an assistant at Tecumseh, Ann Arbor Pioneer and Ann Arbor Skyline, served two seasons as head coach at Jonesville and 10 seasons as head coach at Addison, and has compiled an 84-57 record, the team said. Lindeman also serves as Manchester High School’s principal and athletic director, the Lions said.
Detroit Lions Football Education interviewed Lindeman about his Lenawee County upbringing, coaching experiences, the Flying Dutchmen offense and his leadership roles; the team said he was notified of the award on Head Coach Hangout and the interview is available at DetroitLions.com/coachoftheweek. Each weekly winner receives a $1,000 donation to the school’s football program, and the season’s Coach of the Year will receive a $3,000 donation, the Lions said. The program, in its 30th year, will award $12,000 this season to support high school football in Michigan and has given $527,000 to programs statewide since its inception, the Lions said. A panel of high school football media members — Mick McCabe, Hugh Bernreuter, Bret Bakita, James Cook and Scott DeCamp — selects the winner, the team said.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Recognizing coaches like Josh Lindeman highlights the intersection of on-field success and broader school leadership; his roles as head coach, principal and athletic director underscore the multifaceted responsibilities many high school coaches carry. Manchester’s 6-1 mark and a conference championship game provide timely context for the award. The Lions’ program combines immediate recognition with financial support for programs through weekly donations and a year-end Coach of the Year prize, reinforcing long-standing support for Michigan high school football.