Detroit, MI— The Detroit Lions have named Troy Schelke of Harbor Beach High School, the 2025 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year, presented by Carhartt. Schelke’s Pirates defeated the Hudson Tigers 31-20 to win the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 8 football state championship, the school’s 2nd football state championship. The Pirates, from the Big Thumb Conference, Black Division finished their season undefeated at 14-0 and outscored their opponents 546-124 (39 pts./8.9 pts.).
Schelke completed his 37th season of coaching high school football, having spent the last 29 seasons as head coach, all at Harbor Beach High School, compiling a 222-90 (71.2%) record. His Pirates have made the playoffs 20 times including the last nine years in a row, won 12 conference championships, nine district championships, six regional crowns while winning state titles in 2012 & 2025. Schelke was selected as a Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week during Week 8 of the 2012 season and was named to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2023.
In addition to his head coaching duties, Schelke is a physical education teacher and athletic director at Harbor Beach High School. Detroit Lions Football Education sat down with Schelke to recap the Division 8 state championship game, discuss what the Harbor Beach community means to him and what his personal reward is from coaching high school football for three plus decades. Schelke was also informed of his 2025 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year selection on Head Coach Hangout. See his reaction and the entire interview by visiting www.DetroitLions.com/coachoftheyear.
