KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Wednesday, Nov. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs named their Week 9 Coach of the Week recipients for the 2026 season.
Lincoln College Prep Head Coach Julius Foster (Missouri) and Washington High School Head Coach Camron Smith (Kansas) are the Week 9 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 Lincoln College Prep Tigers, under the leadership of Head Coach Julius Foster, are headed to the second round of the MSHSAA Class 5 District 8 playoffs, where they will travel to face the Platte County Pirates on Friday, Nov. 6., with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
The Tigers advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a hard-fought 15-14 victory over the Winnetonka Griffins on Friday, Oct. 31. Lincoln Prep erased an 8-0 halftime deficit with eight third-quarter points before scoring the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Lincoln started out their season with a 10-7 win on the road over the University Academy Charter/Kauffman Gryphons Friday, Aug. 28. Since then, the team encountered some challenges but made strides in early October with wins against the Northeast Vikings, 44-13, and the Central Eagles, 17-6.
"From my perspective, this award highlights the efforts of not just the head coach but the entire staff," Foster said. "It means so much to me for my guys to be highlighted. That said, a huge shoutout to Derek Jones Jr., Tyjuan Porter, Michael Carpenter, Clifton McFadden III, Tywan Muturi, Jalen Spencer, Myron Thomas, and Caleb Diederich. The head coach is only as strong as his staff and these guys have me feeling like a written warrior."
Foster is a Lincoln Prep Class of 2012 alum. During his time there, he was a dual-sport athlete competing in both basketball and football. On the football field, he played running back and linebacker, and earned a football scholarship to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. He played college football for the Storm and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sports Administration (2012-16).
Foster began his coaching journey by returning to Lincoln Prep as a quarterbacks coach and serving as an assistant coach and college career specialist from 2018-21. In 2021, Foster took over as the head football coach for the Southeast Blue Knights in Kansas City. He later returned to Lincoln Prep to take over the mantle as the program's head football coach, focusing on culture building and player development.
Alongside his coaching roles, Foster has built a concurrent career in higher education and professional development. He has worked at Park University since September 2021, where he serves as the Director of Career Development.
Under the mentorship of Head Coach Camron Smith, the Washington Wildcats are riding a three-game winning streak. The team is coming off a 42-35 victory over Blue Valley Southwest on Friday, Oct. 30, improving to 7-2 overall while maintaining first place in the Meadowlark District with a perfect 5-0 record.
Washington's recent surge includes an 83-7 victory over the Harmon Hawks on Oct. 16, a game in which the Wildcats amassed 699 yards of total offense and forced eight turnovers. The defense also returned two interceptions and a fumble for touchdowns while recording 15 tackles for loss.
The Wildcats followed that performance with a 50-0 shutout of conference opponent Sumner Academy before defeating Blue Valley Southwest to extend their winning streak to three games.
"It means a lot to me because it showcases the hard work these student-athletes and coaching staff have produced since the off-season," Smith said. "They work extremely hard and we are grateful for the meaningful recognition."
Smith is in his seventh season as both head football coach and a Digital Media Teacher at Washington High School. Off the field, Smith earned an Associate of Science degree from KCKCC, a Bachelor of Communications with an emphasis in Film & Media Arts from UMKC, and a Master of Science in Education from Fort Hays State University.
During his tenure, Washington has captured a conference title and hosted two playoff games.
As a student-athlete at Washington, Smith was a member of the National Honor Society, graduated ninth in his class in 2004, and earned All-City, All-League, and All-State football honors. Smith originally went on to play college football for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers prior to returning home to finish his education and focus on community mentorship.
Before taking over the head coaching position at Washington, Smith spent a decade teaching and coaching at Northwest Middle School and served as an assistant coach at Wyandotte High School, helping teams capture league titles in football, basketball, and wrestling.
This is Smith's fourth Chiefs Coach of the Week honor, with his most recent recognition coming in Week 6 of the 2025 season.
Away from football, Smith performs stand-up comedy at local venues and has built a substantial social media following under the handle "Big Cam I Am." Across his platforms, he has amassed more than 179,000 followers on Instagram, 566,000 subscribers on YouTube, and 894,000 followers on TikTok.
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.
