Posted: Feb 15, 2024
Urbandale High School Head Football Coach, Sam Anderson, has been named the 2024 recipient of the IHSAA Character Counts Coach of Year. Anderson, a Physical Education teacher at Urbandale High School, has been the Head Football Coach for the past 20 years and has served as an Assistant Bowling and Boys Tennis Coach.
The IHSAA announced this award on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
During his career, Sam has accumulated a career record of 168-119 and coached:
- 7 Elite All-Staters and 57 All-Staters in Football
- 330 All-Conference & All-District Players
- 2 High School All-Americans – Allen Lazard & Jake Heinrich, Urbandale High School
- 1 NFL Athlete – Allen Lazard, Urbandale High School Football (2014)
- 27 Academic All-State selections in Football
- 22 State Playoff Teams (4 District Champions)
In addition to the on-field honor, Coach Anderson has received State Academic Team Awards from the IHSAA & IGHSAU.
- Football: 13
- Boys Bowling: 6
- Girls Bowling: 6
- Boys Tennis: 2
This award recognizes a person's commitment to youth, enthusiasm for educational athletics, and being a great role model for students, parents, coaches, athletic directors and administrators. Along with the recognition Anderson will receive as the Character Counts Coach of the Year, Urbandale will receive a $1000 grant funded by the Iowa Institute for Character Development and the Iowa Games to help Urbandale further promote and enhance character development.
Anderson will be honored publicly on Thursday, March 7, during halftime of the 4A Semifinal Basketball game at Wells Fargo Arena.
Congratulations to Sam Anderson on this outstanding accomplishment.