ExtremeRavens Posted December 13 Posted December 13 Arundel football coach Jack Walsh and Boonsboro girls flag football coach Chad Hartman were named the 2024 Ravens High School Coaches of the Year, John Harbaugh announced Friday afternoon. This is the first time the Ravens included girls flag football in the annual award, which dates 27 years. Hartman’s recognition for a 10-0 season, county championship and trip to the state final also comes on the heels of the inaugural season for the sport in Washington County, Montgomery County and Baltimore City. Frederick County was the first school system to break the seal last fall. “It’s crazy to see some of the athletic ability of some of the young ladies in the state of Maryland,” Hartman said. “Some of the games we’ve played against some of the coaches out here, just unbelievable. And I can’t wait for it to grow. We’re short like 30-something teams to make it an official state sport in Maryland. We’re really hoping Baltimore County, Carroll County jump on board and kind of make this something that’s gonna last a long time to come.” The Warriors — representing the smallest school in the state tournament’s final field of eight — were undefeated until the state championship game Nov. 8, falling to Clarksburg, 21-12, under the lights at M&T Bank Stadium. That game came less than 24 hours after the Ravens’ “Thursday Night Football” win over the Cincinnati Bengals. On Friday, with Hartman standing behind the microphone generally reserved for Ravens players and coaches, Harbaugh jumped in with a softball question: “What is it about flag football that attracts the girls to play and what are the benefits of it?” he asked. “Why is it so great?” Hartman said because his players spent so many years watching football on TV, there’s an allure to finally breaking the barrier of being able to compete themselves, against their peers. He added it’s been a joy to be able to sit on the couch with his daughters and watch football on Sundays as they’re becoming more invested in the sport. “Twenty-three girls have all become my daughters now because of what y’all [Ravens] have helped me put together,” Hartman said. Walsh broke another kind of glass ceiling. In his sixth year as varsity coach, he led the Wildcats to their first state championship in 49 years. They were also the first Anne Arundel County school to win a football state title since 2011. “Thank you to the Ravens and Coach Harbaugh for having us out today and letting us tour the facility, it’s been fantastic,” Walsh said. “And thank you to Arundel, we’ve been waiting 49 years and we did it.” Arundel had a dominant 12-1 season. In five of those wins, the Wildcats scored at least 60 points. They averaged 46 points per game while holding opponents to 11 per game. In their second state final appearance in three seasons, they routed Linganore, 35-7, to finally get over the hump, handily ending a generation-long drought. Aside from his wedding day and the birth of his daughter, Walsh said holding that MPSSAA Class 3A trophy up to the home fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was “second to none.” Walsh will be the Ravens’ nominee for the NFL’s Don Shula Coach of the Year program. Each week during the 2024 season, the Ravens honored a high school coach who made a significant impact on his student-athletes. Here’s the list of those recipients this fall: Week 1: Anthony Burgos, Franklin High School Week 2: Rob Harris, Breakneck High School Week 3: David Cunningham, Francis Scott Key Week 4: Steve Crounse, Patuxent Week 5: Jake Coleman, Stephen Decatur Week 6: Patrick Nixon, Mervo Week 7: Brad Hunt, Harford Tech Week 8: Reggie White, Milford Mill Week 9: Jack Walsh, Arundel Week 10: Ross Hannon, Howard View the full article Quote
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