KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Kansas City Chiefs announced their Week 5 Kansas High School Flag Football Coach of the Week recipient for the 2026 season.
Shawnee Mission West High School Head Coach Katlin Leonard has been selected as the Week 5 honoree. This weekly recognition highlights exceptional Kansas City-area head coaches who excel in team performance and student-athlete development.
As part of his recognition, Leonard will receive a $1,000 grant from the Hunt Family Foundation, a Chiefs bucket hat, a certificate of recognition, and a custom game ball.
In their inaugural season under Leonard, the Vikings have raced to an 8-0 record and currently hold the No. 1 ranking in Kansas Class 6A and the Kansas City area Flag Football rankings.
Shawnee Mission West is coming off a 14-13 non-league triumph over the Olathe West Owls on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The Vikings secured the victory in overtime despite difficult weather conditions.
"Last week, we had a tough win in the rain against Olathe West," said Leonard.
"It was the first time in a while that we were really pushed, and they took us all the way to overtime before we were able to pull it out. It was definitely a game we needed to help prepare us for the playoff push."
Offensively, the Vikings have dominated in their first season, scoring an average of 35.9 points per game (287 total points). Their highest-scoring game came on Sept. 12 in a 61-0 shutout win against the Shawnee Mission North Bison.
The performance was part of a doubleheader that showcased the team's endurance. Shawnee Mission West played two consecutive road games in a single day, sweeping Olathe East (38-12) and Shawnee Mission North (61-0) back-to-back, and outscoring their opponents 99-12 in the two contests.
With an average win margin of 23.25 points per game across their last 8 games, the Vikings hope to continue their early momentum as they tackle their next stretch of the season.
"It means everything to receive this award," said Leonard.
"I really don't see it as an individual award because I know the hard work my team puts in every single day is the main reason I'm even able to receive it. I'm extremely proud of these girls and everything they've accomplished this season, and this award is a reflection of the work we've put in together."
Leonard is a prominent youth and high school flag football coach in the Kansas City metro area who has played a vital role in launching the region's official Girls Flag Football circuit.
Starting this 2026 season, Leonard was appointed as the inaugural varsity head coach for the newly established Girls Flag Football program at Shawnee Mission West High School. He guided the team to a historic 31-6 victory during their first-ever officially sanctioned game Sept. 2 against the Gardner-Edgerton Trailblazers, marking a massive milestone for the school's athletic department.
Beyond his high school coaching responsibilities, Leonard serves as the head coach for the KC Shockers, a competitive youth Flag Football organization. Under his leadership, the program's youth rosters have achieved significant regional success and earned competitive bids to the NFL Flag National Championships in Orlando, Fla.
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 High School Flag Football Coach of the Week feature is in its first year in Kansas following KSHSAA sanctioning.
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.
