KC Reporter

On October 22, 2025, the Kansas City Chiefs announced the recipients of their Week 8 High School Coach of the Week awards for the 2025 season. The honorees are Bill Utz, head coach at Platte County High School in Missouri, and Tom Radke, head coach at St. James Academy in Kansas.

The weekly award recognizes Kansas City-area head coaches for achievements on the field and leadership off it. Both coaches will receive a $500 grant from the Hunt Family Foundation, a Chiefs bucket hat, a certificate of recognition, and a custom game ball. They also become eligible for the Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award, which is chosen at season’s end by a panel from Missouri and Kansas Boards of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association.

Platte County High School’s football team defeated Ruskin Golden Eagles 70-6 on October 17 during Senior Night. The Pirates remain undefeated at 8-0 this season and have won 22 consecutive games since early 2024. They average over 58 points per game while allowing just over 11 points defensively as they approach their final regular-season game against Raytown.

"We are honored to receive this award, and greatly appreciate the team recognition," said Utz. "It is a direct reflection of the time and effort our coaches, players, and community have dedicated to our program. Thank you to the Chiefs and the area media outlets that support High School football so well."

Utz is in his eighteenth season with Platte County and led them to a MSHSAA Class 5A State Championship in 2024. He was named MSHSAA Class 5A Coach of the Year last year and holds a record of 152-62 with Platte County.

St. James Academy’s Thunder improved to a 6-1 record after defeating top-ranked Kapaun Mt. Carmel with a score of 38-35, handing them their first loss of the season. St. James recorded nearly 300 passing yards and four touchdowns in that game and will play Blue Valley West Jaguars next for Senior Night.

"This is an incredible honor for our coaching staff who has done such a great job this season of getting our guys prepared each week in a really tough league and non-conference schedule," Radke said. "The Chiefs and PrepsKC do so much for high school football in the metro area, so it is truly a blessing for our coaches, school and fans to be recognized in this way by them. It has been an incredible year so far with opening our new stadium, to starting 6-1 and now being recognized as Chiefs Coach of the Week."

Radke has coached St. James Academy for sixteen seasons, leading them to state titles in both 2020 and 2021. He previously coached KC Piper from 2007 to 2010.

The High School Coach of the Week program has been running for twenty-nine years as a partnership between the Kansas City Chiefs and National Football League, recognizing coaches who make significant contributions both on and off the field.

The selection process involves collaboration with PrepsKC, which provides comprehensive multimedia coverage of high school football in Kansas City through its website www.prepskc.com.