ST. LOUIS - Bill Breden, who coached the Jerseyville football team to an 11-1 record this season, was named St. Louis area High School Coach of the Year by Metropolitan area journalists.

Breden received a plaque today from St. Louis Rams Head Coach Mike Martz and was joined by other Coach of the Week winners from area high schools in a news conference at Rams Park after they watched Rams practice.

The Jerseyville Community High School football program also will receive a check for $1,000 from NFL Charities.

Each week during the season, Coach Martz recognized an area Coach of the Week winner on Wednesday "Media Day." The other weekly winners have received $500 donations to their school’s athletic program and St. Louis Rams merchandise for their coaches and players.

Jerseyville posted a 9-0 record in the regular season and began the Illinois State Championship playoffs with a 41-0 win over the Salem Wildcats. The team fell to River Grove High School in the second round by a score of 35-21.

The selection board for the High School Coach of the Year honors includes: Cameron Holloway, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Joe Ostermeier, Belleville News- Democrat; Malcolm Briggs, KSDK/Channel 5; and Warren Mayes, Alton Telegraph.

2000 Coach of the Week Winners:

Rick Reinhardt, Civic Memorial High School, Bethalto, IL.

Coaching by Committee: Mike McGinnis, Todd Bloomberg and Mike Ambrose, Belleville East High School, Belleville, IL.

Bob Shannon, Christian Brothers College High School, St. Louis, MO.

Rick Gorzynski, Hazelwood East High School, St. Louis, MO.

Melvin Walls, Beaumont High School, St. Louis, MO.

Tim Dougherty, Edwardsville High School, Edwardsville, IL.

Dale Gildenhaus, Borgia High School, Washington, MO.

Bill Breden, Jerseyville High School, Jerseyville, IL. ---