DETROIT, Michigan — The Detroit Lions named Shane Fairfield of Muskegon High School the 2023 Lions High School Football Coach of the Year.
Fairfield's team beat the two-time defending state champion Warren De La Salle 33-21 to win the MHSAA Division 2 state championship.
The win marked the 900th victory of all-time in Muskegon football history dating back to 1895. Muskegon is also the all-time winningest football program in Michigan.
This season, the Big Reds ended their season on a 12-game winning streak, finishing 12-2 in the Ottawa Kent Conference, Green Division and outscoring their opponents 561-207.
Fairfield just completed his 14th season as head coach at Muskegon and has compiled a 154-29 (84.2%) record during his time with the school. He's only three wins away from passing Leo Redmond as the all-time winningest coach in the school's history.
Fairfield's Big Reds have won eight conference titles, 11 district championships and nine regional crowns. He's also won two MHSAA State Championships, one in 2017 and now one in 2023.
He also led the Big Reds to their runner-up appearances in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022.
In 2012, Fairfield was named a Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week during the third week of this third season at Muskegon.
Fairfield began his coaching journey in 1991 and spent five years as a coach at Holton High School. He was also an assistant coach at Muskegon before leading the team.
His reaction to winning the title and interview can be found here.
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