KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Kansas City Chiefs honored their Week 8 Coach of the Week recipients for the 2026 season.
Benton High School Head Coach Mark Cole (Missouri) and Harmon High School Head Coach Ke'Von Smith (Kansas) are the Week 8 selections following strong performances from their respective teams this past week.
This weekly spotlight continues the Chiefs mission to recognize outstanding high school football coaches across the region. Each week, one coach from Missouri and one from Kansas are honored for the meaningful impact they have on their players, their programs, and their communities. The Coach of the Week initiative celebrates the individuals working behind the scenes to help shape the next generation of football players and leaders, striving to make an impact beyond on-field performance.
As part of their recognition, both coaches will receive a $1,000 grant from the Hunt Family Foundation, a Chiefs bucket hat, a certificate of recognition and a custom game ball. Both coaches also qualify for the Eric Driskell Coach of the Year Award, which is selected at the end of the high school regular season by a panel from the Missouri and Kansas Boards of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association.
The Benton Cardinals have not seen a winning season or been able to reach a five-win threshold since 2010. In just his second year as head coach, Mark Cole has guided the program to its best record in 16 years.
Following Benton's 31-20 victory over Midland Empire Conference rival the Chillicothe Hornets on Friday, Oct. 23, the Cardinals improved to 5-4 on the season. The home game started in dramatic fashion, as the Cardinals scored on the opening play from scrimmage with an 84-yard touchdown to take an early lead.
With a 35-0 shutout over the Excelsior Springs Tigers, a 49-28 win against the Cameron Dragons, and now the Chillicothe victory, Benton is in a stretch where they have outscored their opponents by an average of 26.0 points.
"It means a great deal to me personally," Cole said. "Being recognized by a great organization that covers a variety of coaches is humbling to me. Our program has put a tremendous amount of work to improve and for that to be seen, it makes the journey easier."
Sixteen years ago, Benton finished 6-4. Now, in 2026, the Cardinals have a chance to match that win total.
Cole has coached for over 27 years, 20 of them as a head coach, with stops across the state of Missouri in Gallatin (Bulldogs), Savannah (Savages), Maysville (Wolverines), and Milan (Wildcats). Throughout his time at each institution, Cole has compiled six district championship wins, six conference titles, made 10 playoff appearances, and three semifinal appearances.
Now riding a three-game winning streak, the Cardinals prepare to face the Van Horn Falcons at home in district play Friday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
In just one season at the helm, Head Coach Ke'Von Smith has guided the Hawks to their most successful campaign in more than a decade.
Harmon capped their regular season with a 4-4 record after defeating the Schlagle Stallions 28-8, on Friday, Oct. 23. The victory secured a postseason berth and marked a strong turnaround for the Hawks football program.
"Being named Chiefs Coach of the Week is an incredible honor and means a lot to me personally," Smith said. "I pour my heart into this program, but everything we're building takes all of us. I'm thankful for my staff's dedication, our players hard work and belief in our vision, and the Harmon community's support. I'm proud to lead this team and share this recognition with everyone helping us move Harmon football forward."
The achievement is even more significant considering where the program stood just a year ago, finishing 1-8 in 2025. From 2021 through 2025, the Hawks compiled a combined record of just 4-37. The 2026 squad matched that four-win total in a single season.
Under Smith's leadership, the Hawks not only doubled their win total from 2024 and quadrupled their win total from 2025 but also posted the program's best record since 2011. Harmon had not won four games in a season since 2004, making this year's accomplishment a historic milestone.
A defining moment came in mid-September when the Hawks defeated the Northeast Vikings 24-3, and then the Southeast Knights 29-12, giving the program their first consecutive victories in more than 10 years. The win served as a turning point and demonstrated the culture shift taking place inside the program.
Prior to his start with Harmon in May of 2026, Smith led the football program at KIPP KC Legacy High School. He also played football at Peru State College in Nebraska before making the transition to coaching.
Smith's roots at Harmon run deeper than football, and the voice behind the Hawks football broadcast, Pat Harris, is his father. The family connection also extends to Smith's brother Xavier, who contributes on game days. Together, the family has become an important piece of Hawks football, creating a tradition that stretches from the sidelines to the broadcast booth.
Coming off a challenging stretch, the Hawks entered the 2026 season determined to start fresh. Smith's vision, combined with the commitment of his coaching staff and players, helped establish a new standard for the program. Harmon finished 2-3 in Meadowlark District play, its strongest district performance since 2011. Now, with a postseason appearance secured, Harmon gets ready to play their next opponent, the St. James Academy Thunder, on the road Friday, Oct. 30.
Now in its 30th year, the High School Coach of the Week program is a joint initiative between the Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football League. In addition to highlighting head coaches for their team's performance, this award honors individuals who make a difference in the lives of high school student-athletes by preparing them for life beyond football.
The Kansas City Chiefs partner with PrepsKC to select Coaches of the Week from Missouri and Kansas each week. For the past 16 years, PrepsKC has been Kansas City's only complete multimedia outlet covering high school, offering a dynamic website, weekly magazine and comprehensive weekly radio show. More information about PrepsKC, including scores, schedules and coverage can be found at www.prepskc.com.
Uncrustables, the Official PB&J of the Kansas City Chiefs, is the presenting partner of the Chiefs Coach of the Week Program.
