Legendary former NFL quarterback and Alabama native Philip Rivers — now the head coach at St. Michael Catholic in Fairhope — is being honored with a very special award.
Every year, the Alabama Sports Writers Association gives out the Presidents’ Award to a coach who best exemplifies commitment to community service activities and “overall excellence” as well as embodying the spirt of athletics in the state. This year, Rivers is going to be the recipient.
“I think Philip coming here as a high school football coach gave our program instant credibility but also helped shine a bright light on student-athletes all over this state,” St. Michael athletic director and defensive coordinator Simon Cortopassi told AL.com. “He’s not only one of the greatest football minds in the world, but one of the greatest people and mentors students could possibly have. He’s also an unbelievable motivator. He has an unbelievable knack of getting the most out of everyone around him whether it’s a player or a coach or whoever.”
Rivers has coached his son Gunner the last three years, who is the starting quarterback and one of the best players in the state, with more of his children on the way including his younger son Peter who is also a quarterback.
As Gunner enters his senior year, the Rivers boys get the chance to have one more year together and Philip’s commitment to the area is now being honored.
“I was honored to be in that group of 26 semifinalists, but I wasn’t holding my breath that it was going to happen this year,” Rivers said on the award. “If and when I could ever be among that group, I will certainly be humbled and honored and thankful, but I don’t count down the days and years and worry about that to be honest…Being from the state of Alabama always has been something I was proud of throughout my playing career on the West Coast all those years. Though I grew up in the north part of the state, being here in Fairhope feels like home.”
It seems like Rivers has not only found a local home in Fairhope, but the St. Michael community has found a head coach they hope is not going anywhere anytime soon.
