All that Mike Warfield has done since arriving as the head coach at Aliquippa in 2018 is win.
Since being hired in 2018, the Quips have gone 74-6 and won the 2018 WPIAL 3A title and three straight WPIAL 4A titles between 2021-23 — and three PIAA titles in four appearances.
Aliquippa capped off a 14-0 campaign with a dominant 60-14 win against Dallas High School in the WPIAL 4A title game earlier this month, and Warfield has been named the Steelers High School Coach of the Year and a nominee for the NFL Don Shula Coach of the Year.
It was the first Aliquippa squad to go unbeaten and claim WPIAL and PIAA titles — which is surprising considering the illustrious history of the Quips program.
“I think it means more to the kids because this was something they wanted to accomplish,” Warfield told the Pittsburgh Union Press, with the publication naming him Coach of the Year. “It was a challenge for them. And, you know Aliquippa kids, when you challenge them, they’re going to try to step up to the plate and make it happen. This is something that they’ve wanted and I’m happy and so proud of them to go out and work every day to reach that goal.”
Warfield, who starred at Aliquippa in the 1980s before attending Catawba College and playing quarterback, arrived at Aliquippa after spending time at rival Central Valley as an assistant in the 2010s.
Warfield has not only continued — and built upon — the legacy of Aliquippa football, but he’s been a proponent of emphasizing the academics and off-the-field success of the program.
As the Steelers’ Coach of the Year, Warfield is a finalist for the Don Shula Award — which will be awarded to two of the 50 state winners, one representing the AFC and one representing the NFC.
The NFL Foundation and Nike will present the winners with a $15,000 award to their respective football programs and a $10,000 award. All nominees will receive a $1,000 award. And all nominees will attend Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nv. as special guests.
The Don Shula Award winners will be announced in the prior before the Pro Bowl.
Former West Allegheny and Mt. Lebanon head coach — and current Penn State assistant — Bob Palko was honored as the Don Shula Award winner in 2021. Warfield, who coached the Quips to an unbeaten state title-winning season while playing up three classifications, has a good chance to follow him up.
