KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Wednesday, Sept. 23, the Kansas City Chiefs announced their Week 3 Coach of the Week recipients for the 2026 season.
Raytown High School Head Coach Anthony Morgan (Missouri) and De Soto High School Head Coach Brian King (Kansas) are the Week 3 selections for their team's performances in the third week of the high school football season.
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 past the tangible points on the scoreboard.
As part of their recognition, both coaches will receive a $500 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.
Under Morgan's leadership, Raytown has opened their 2026 campaign with a perfect 4-0 record (3-0 district play). The strong start comes after Morgan's first season at the helm in 2025, when the Bluejays finished 7-5 overall and advanced to the district semifinals.
Most notably, Raytown's 24-22 fourth-quarter comeback win over Grain Valley on Friday, Sept. 18, snapped a six-year drought against the Eagles. The Bluejays had not defeated Grain Valley since a 14-7 victory in 2020. The hard-fought road win improved Raytown's all-time record against the Eagles to 5-10. The offense produced 192 passing yards, 192 receiving yards, and 134 rushing yards, while the defense contributed 52 tackles and a sack.
The Bluejays victory over the Eagles meant more to the Raytown community than just another win. Morgan said the team's performance reflected resilience and unity during an incredibly difficult week.
"The honor of being named Chiefs Coach of the Week is a testament to the hard work and dedication from everyone in the program. More importantly, this award is special because our win on Friday was a great example of triumph while experiencing tragedy. This award is for our football program, school, and community that came together this week to honor and remember Josh Lewis."
The Bluejays will look to keep their unbeaten season intact when they return to Chitwood Stadium on Friday, Sept. 25, to host the Fort Osage Indians.
Morgan is not only the Head Coach of the football team at Raytown, but also the Assistant Coach of the varsity baseball team during the spring.
Before earning the head coaching role, Morgan served as a foundational piece of the Bluejay football team, working as a linebackers coach, as well as simultaneously fulfilling the title of basketball coach for the freshmen team during the mid-to-late 2010s. He later transitioned to the coaching staff at Van Horn High School (Independence, Mo.), as an assistant coach and coordinator. Morgan was hired back as the head football coach for Raytown ahead of the 2024 season, and since then he has not looked back, completely turning the team around from a 1-9 program to a 5-5 finish in 2024, and a 7-5 record and district semifinal appearance in 2025.
King's Wildcats are off to a steady 3-0 (3-0 district play) record following a close 31-28 road win over the Basehor-Linwood Bobcats Friday, Sept. 18. The Wildcats amassed 154 passing yards, and 268 rushing yards. They were able to take the win on a final second field goal, handing the Bobcats their first loss of the season. De Soto also outscored their other two most recent opponents, the Seaman Vikings (Topeka) 48-34 and the West Chargers (Topeka) 77-6, at home.
The Wildcats topped their rival (Basehor-Linwood) in a battle of teams looking to go deep in the Kansas 5A playoffs. King said the honor of being named Kansas High School Coach of the Week by the Kansas City Chiefs was a group achievement.
"It is a great honor, and I am extremely grateful to our players and coaching staff for all of their hard work and effort," said King. "We have a great group of players who have put in countless hours during the offseason to prepare and put our best product on the field every Friday night. This is a tremendous honor for our team, our school, and our entire community. I am proud of the work our players and coaches have put in and grateful for everyone who has played a part in helping make this possible."
De Soto is looking to put another one in the bag this upcoming Friday, Sept. 25 against the Piper Pirates to keep their unblemished season alive.
King has held the title of head coach at De Soto High School since 2013 and has guided the Kansas 5A program to five conference championships, six regional championships, a sectional championship, and a 67-36 overall win-loss record. King holds the bragging rights of being the winningest coach in Wildcat football history. Before his coaching career, King attended college at Emporia State University, where he also played on the football team as a running back, from 2000-05.
King was named by the Kansas City Chiefs as Kansas High School Coach of the Year in December 2017. While the Wildcats did not get the chance to play for a Class 4A-Division I title in Kansas that year, King led De Soto to a 10-2 season and the program's first sub-state championship game in 28 years. The Wildcats only two losses of the season were to the Bishop Miege Stags, the eventual 2017 state champion. On average, De Soto scored 37.9 points per game and held opponents to 12.5 points per game. This recognition was only the start of King's career with the Wildcats.
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.
