Kozens named Northeast U.S. Football Coach of the Year

LACONIA — Before a standing room only crowd at last night's school board meeting, high school football coach Craig Kozens was officially named the National Federation of High School Coaches Association's Northeast Football Coach of the Year for 2010.

The annual award is given to a coach that not only exemplifies what sports is all about, but who goes the extra mile for his team, school, players and community.

Kozens, who joined the LHS faculty from New Hampton School 10 years ago, was nominated by Principal Steven Beals, who said, "Craig is a terrific football coach and a better person. He cares deeply for everyone involved in his program and leads it with dignity and class and I am proud to work with him and call him my colleague."

On hand for the presentation was New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletics Association President and long-time friend of Sachem football Pat Corbin who lauded Kozens as not only a great football coach but one of the reasons the Division IV team enjoys the great state reputation it has.

He described a New Hampshire coach winning this award as a "truly remarkable event" because of the state's small size and population.

By means of comparison, Corbin said the state of Florida has 1.3-million students who participate in high school sports noting that's more that the entire population of New Hampshire.

Kozens, although he knew the award was coming, at time seemed overwhelmed by the words of praise spoken by his colleagues and two of his former students John Sands and Doren Logsdon.

Sands, now a coach in the Gilford football program, said when he first met Kozens and became part of Sachem football, he was having some rough times and "Coach took me under his wings."

"He's probably the reason I'm here today," Sands said.

Logsdon is last season's team captain.

"He keeps an eye on all of us," Logsdon said, adding Kozens treats each player as an individual despite his motto of "no player is more important than the team."

For his part, Kozens simply said he couldn't have "found a better place to hang his hat" than Laconia.

"I'm very thankful for all of your kind words," he said to his former players.