Only one football coach in the entire state of Minnesota can earn the Jerry Kill Power of Influence Award. This year, it’s going to Two Harbors’ own Tom Nelson.

Given annually by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association (MFCA) since 2006, it honors a high school head coach for his impact on his players, school and community. The selected coach embodies respect and inspiration.

In a statement Nelson made on the Two Harbors Agates Football Facebook page he said, in part, “all I ever wanted to do was to give this town, and the people who love it, a reason to be proud of their Agate football program again!”

Nelson will receive the award at the annual MFCA banquet March 29.

He becomes the fourth coach of a Northland program to earn the honor. He joins:

• Dave Louzek, Moose Lake-Willow River (2019)
• Tom Lenarz, Cloquet (2018)
• Dave Hylla, Proctor (2008)

For the full list of Jerry Kill Power of Influence award winners, click here.