GREENWOOD, Arkansas — Named after legendary Arkansas Head Coach Frank Broyles, the Broyles Award is given to the top assistant collegiate football coach every year.
In 2018, the organization began giving the High School Broyles Award to recognize the top high school assistant coaches from participating states.
This year the award was given to Greenwood High School’s Defensive Coordinator Jason Gill.
“I've known about Coach Broyles since I was a little boy, so maybe being from Arkansas it's a little bit more special,” Gill said.
Born in Fordyce, Arkansas, football has been a part of Coach Gill’s life since he was a child.
"Football is a great tradition there, and I just grew up with a love for the game,” Gill said. "Football was really good for me and it helped me out."
Gill has been with the Bulldogs for 11 seasons, and their defensive coordinator for nine. He was recognized for helping turn Greenwood into a defensive powerhouse in the 6A Division.
"I'm just very appreciative of it,” Gill said. “I'm thankful the Arkansas coaches selected me, and I couldn't be more honored to be mentioned next to Coach Broyles."
With four 6A State Championships in the last seven years, including an undefeated season in 2023, a winning culture is something Coach Gill has helped instill into the players.
“I've been around this program since I was little,” said senior at Greenwood and safety for the Bulldogs Kaylor Jasna. “Coach Gill, he's just a physical guy and a hard worker. He's in here with all these other coaches making us better, and he's a leader in that group. He makes sure everyone's doing their part."
Gill adds that helping students on and off the field is one of the best parts of the job.
“I'm lucky I get to be with our kids from seventh grade to their senior year,” Gill said. “I love watching them grow and mature and become young men, and I hope to think that I helped them in some way.”
As summer practices continue, Gill is looking forward to embarking on his 10th season as defensive coordinator with one goal in mind.
“Trying to repeat as champions, that's not done very much,” Gill said.”It's going to be a challenge because we're so young and inexperienced on the defensive side, but I love summer, that's when we find out who our guys are.”
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