Limon High School’s Mike O’Dwyer Named 2024 AFCA/AFCF Power of Influence Award Winner
January 12, 2025
Limon (Colo.) High School head coach Mike O’Dwyer has been named the recipient of the 2024 AFCA/AFCF Power of Influence Award. This award is given jointly by the American Football Coaches Association® and the American Football Coaches Foundation®. O’Dwyer was nominated by the Colorado High School Activities Association. He was honored today during the 2025 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Power of Influence Award was created as a way for the AFCA® and AFCF® to honor deserving high school football coaches. Coaches who receive this award are recognized for their impact on their team, as well as the legacy they leave with the school and surrounding community. This award is not based on wins and losses; however, it should be noted that coaches of powerful influence have longevity and success. The winners are selected by members of the AFCF Board of Directors.
O’Dwyer has been at Limon High School in Colorado for 40 years, serving as the head coach for the past 23 years. During his tenure, he has compiled an outstanding record of 229-39, becoming the winningest football coach in program history. From 2003 to 2006, Limon won a state record 50 straight games. O’Dwyer led the Badgers to a 9-3 record in 2024 with an appearance in the Colorado State 1A semifinals. O’Dwyer has guided Limon to the state playoffs each year he has been a head coach with eight state championships and two runner-up finishes.
“In my 40 years of coaching, if I had any power of influence, it will not be measured in wins and losses but in the next five, 10 or 20 years,” O’Dwyer said. “Did my coaching influence my players to become successful husbands, successful fathers and successful leaders in their communities?”
O’Dwyer became a member of the Colorado High School Coaches Association in 1985 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2022. He has earned Mile-High Sports Magazine Colorado High School Coach of the Year (2020), FNF Coaches Magazine Colorado Coach of the Year (2018) and All-Colorado Football Coach of the Year and Denver Broncos Coach of the Year (2004). He has earned nine South Central Conference Coach of the Year honors and three North Central Conference Coach of the Year awards.
Known for his ability to make a lasting impact on his players, O’Dwyer teaches life lessons that extend beyond the football field, guiding his athletes to succeed not only in the classroom but in all areas of life. His dedication to his family, friends, community, and business ventures is well recognized. A respected member of the Limon community, O’Dwyer also serves on the local bank’s board, runs his own successful insurance company, and has been a member and past president of the Rotary Club for 34 years. His unwavering commitment to his players and the Limon community has fostered a deep sense of loyalty and respect, reflected in the success of his teams and the numerous accolades he has earned over the years.
2024 AFCA/AFCF Regional Power of Influence Award winners were: Region 1: Dave Hearn, Delmar (Del.) High School; Region 2: Roosevelt Nelson, Crestwood (S.C.) High School; Region 3: Tim Goodwin, Marion Local (Ohio) High School; Region 4: Mike O’Dwyer, Limon (Colo.) High School; and Region 5: Steve Pyne, Central Catholic (Ore.) High School.
Past Power of Influence Award winners include: Larry Dippel, Amarillo (Tex.) H.S. (2002); John McKissick, Summerville (S.C.) H.S. (2003); Marcus Borden, East Brunswick (N.J.) H.S. (2004); Ron Stolski, Brainerd (Minn.) H.S. (2005); Sid Otton, Tumwater (Wash.) H.S. (2006); Rob Younger, Sweet Home (Ore.) H.S. (2007); George Smith, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) H.S. (2008); Jim Drewry, Booneville (Miss.) H.S. (2009); Brent Steuerwald, Shenendehowa (N.Y.) H.S. (2010); Noel Dean, Lowell (Mich.) H.S. (2011); Andy Lowry, Columbine (Colo.) H.S. (2012); Bob Burt, Cypress (Calif.) H.S. (2013); Ott Hurrle, Scecina Memorial (Ind.) H.S. (2014); Sam Harrell, Fort Worth Christian (Tex.) H.S. (2015); Tony DeMatteo, Somers (N.Y.) H.S. (2016); Allan Trimble, Jenks (Okla.) H.S. (2017); Rick Jones, Greenwood (Ark.) H.S. (2018); Dave Nelson, Minnetonka (Minn.) H.S. (2019); Don Smolyn, Lenape Valley Regional (N.J.) H.S. (2020); Bill Blankenship, Owasso (Okla.) H.S. (2021); Dwight Lundeen, Becker (Minn.) H.S. (2022) and Rodney Saulsberry, Whitehaven (Tenn.) H.S. (2023).
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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Limon (Colo.) High School head coach Mike O’Dwyer has been named the recipient of the 2024 AFCA/AFCF Power of Influence Award. This award is given jointly by the American Football Coaches Association® and the American Football Coaches Foundation®. O’Dwyer was nominated by the Colorado High School Activities Association. He was honored today during the 2025 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Power of Influence Award was created as a way for the AFCA® and AFCF® to honor deserving high school football coaches. Coaches who receive this award are recognized for their impact on their team, as well as the legacy they leave with the school and surrounding community. This award is not based on wins and losses; however, it should be noted that coaches of powerful influence have longevity and success. The winners are selected by members of the AFCF Board of Directors.
O’Dwyer has been at Limon High School in Colorado for 40 years, serving as the head coach for the past 23 years. During his tenure, he has compiled an outstanding record of 229-39, becoming the winningest football coach in program history. From 2003 to 2006, Limon won a state record 50 straight games. O’Dwyer led the Badgers to a 9-3 record in 2024 with an appearance in the Colorado State 1A semifinals. O’Dwyer has guided Limon to the state playoffs each year he has been a head coach with eight state championships and two runner-up finishes.
“In my 40 years of coaching, if I had any power of influence, it will not be measured in wins and losses but in the next five, 10 or 20 years,” O’Dwyer said. “Did my coaching influence my players to become successful husbands, successful fathers and successful leaders in their communities?”
O’Dwyer became a member of the Colorado High School Coaches Association in 1985 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2022. He has earned Mile-High Sports Magazine Colorado High School Coach of the Year (2020), FNF Coaches Magazine Colorado Coach of the Year (2018) and All-Colorado Football Coach of the Year and Denver Broncos Coach of the Year (2004). He has earned nine South Central Conference Coach of the Year honors and three North Central Conference Coach of the Year awards.
Known for his ability to make a lasting impact on his players, O’Dwyer teaches life lessons that extend beyond the football field, guiding his athletes to succeed not only in the classroom but in all areas of life. His dedication to his family, friends, community, and business ventures is well recognized. A respected member of the Limon community, O’Dwyer also serves on the local bank’s board, runs his own successful insurance company, and has been a member and past president of the Rotary Club for 34 years. His unwavering commitment to his players and the Limon community has fostered a deep sense of loyalty and respect, reflected in the success of his teams and the numerous accolades he has earned over the years.
2024 AFCA/AFCF Regional Power of Influence Award winners were: Region 1: Dave Hearn, Delmar (Del.) High School; Region 2: Roosevelt Nelson, Crestwood (S.C.) High School; Region 3: Tim Goodwin, Marion Local (Ohio) High School; Region 4: Mike O’Dwyer, Limon (Colo.) High School; and Region 5: Steve Pyne, Central Catholic (Ore.) High School.
Past Power of Influence Award winners include: Larry Dippel, Amarillo (Tex.) H.S. (2002); John McKissick, Summerville (S.C.) H.S. (2003); Marcus Borden, East Brunswick (N.J.) H.S. (2004); Ron Stolski, Brainerd (Minn.) H.S. (2005); Sid Otton, Tumwater (Wash.) H.S. (2006); Rob Younger, Sweet Home (Ore.) H.S. (2007); George Smith, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) H.S. (2008); Jim Drewry, Booneville (Miss.) H.S. (2009); Brent Steuerwald, Shenendehowa (N.Y.) H.S. (2010); Noel Dean, Lowell (Mich.) H.S. (2011); Andy Lowry, Columbine (Colo.) H.S. (2012); Bob Burt, Cypress (Calif.) H.S. (2013); Ott Hurrle, Scecina Memorial (Ind.) H.S. (2014); Sam Harrell, Fort Worth Christian (Tex.) H.S. (2015); Tony DeMatteo, Somers (N.Y.) H.S. (2016); Allan Trimble, Jenks (Okla.) H.S. (2017); Rick Jones, Greenwood (Ark.) H.S. (2018); Dave Nelson, Minnetonka (Minn.) H.S. (2019); Don Smolyn, Lenape Valley Regional (N.J.) H.S. (2020); Bill Blankenship, Owasso (Okla.) H.S. (2021); Dwight Lundeen, Becker (Minn.) H.S. (2022) and Rodney Saulsberry, Whitehaven (Tenn.) H.S. (2023).
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
