New Palestine High School

New Palestine football coach Kyle Ralph has been named the Indianapolis Colts Coach of the Year. The award, given to a high school coach in Indiana, is chosen by a panel of voters affiliated with the Indiana Football Coaches Association. Ralph led the Dragons to a 14-0 record and a state championship for the second consecutive season, this year playing a class above their enrollment level in 5A. This year's title marked the Dragons' fifth since 2014 - the most in the state in that span - and second back-to-back championship. This year, he became the fastest coach in Indiana history to achieve 150 wins (164 games). He also is the fastest coach in state history to 100 wins (106 games). Ralph is the third coach – joining Indiana football Hall of Famers’ Dick Dullaghan and Bud Wright – in IHSAA history to lead five unbeaten teams to state titles. He has also developed dozens of players for the next level, with 17 alumni on collegiate rosters and one on an NFL roster in 2025, emphasizing character development in addition to skill on the football field. With this award, Ralph will be nominated for the NFL’s Don Shula High School Coach of the Year award, which honors football coaches who display the integrity, achievement and leadership exemplified by Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. The NFL will select two finalists, one each from the AFC and NFC, from among the 32 club nominees. Both will be invited to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl LIX. The final award winner will receive a $10,000 prize and a $15,000 grant for his football program from the NFL Foundation. The remaining 30 nominees will receive a $1,000 prize and an invitation to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.