Cochrane High Cobras coach Ken Polson was named Football Alberta's Tier 3 Football Coach of the Year on May 20 at the 29th Annual Senior Bowl Awards Banquet. Polson, who has been with Cochrane High School for the last 15 years as their linebacker coach, was nominated by fellow defensive coach Bruce O'Neil who wrote a recommendation letter about Polson that was sent to a panel at Football Alberta. The longtime Cobras coach said he was honoured to receive the prestigious award for the first time, but winning Coach of the Year is more so about the success Cochrane High has achieved over the past two decades rather than his own personal accomplishments. "I was very pleased. Any time you win an award, initially you're very happy about it. I felt good for Cochrane High School as well because others at our school have won it before (Rob McNab, Jim Forrest and Bruce O'Neil) so it feels good," Polson said. "I feel like I've played a role in them winning it and they've definitely played a role in me winning it this year. Really, what you're being awarded for is team success and usually it's continuity as well ... for us at least with us winning, it tends to happen a lot. I think a lot of the time they have to look past that and see who's doing the work to make that occur." "Each time someone has won (from Cochrane High) we all recognize we're all part of it." Winning the award for the first time also allowed Polson to reflect on his time at Cochrane High, but he said there are more important things to him that he's learned through coaching than just winning awards. "I've been coaching for 25 plus years, so it's (winning awards) certainly not something that's ever on my mind. I coach because I enjoy it and it's certainly not something that's difficult for me or where I have to think a lot about it ... I coach because it's what I do and it's part of my life. And if I'm not coaching, it feels like there's a hole in my life," Polson said. "My wife and kids recognize that so we've all been together in that. When I started coaching in Cochrane 15 years ago, I wanted to keep coaching football ... I consider myself a football coach first and foremost. Yes, I coach track and basketball, but coaching the sport of football is my passion." "The awards are not something I ever pursue. Bruce (O'Neil) said he wanted to put me up for it and if I'm considered for the award great and if not, that's fine too. I enjoy being with the kids, seeing how they change over the course of three years ... becoming better people, better men, becoming stronger and more consistent in every part of their lives is really the biggest thing of coaching."
