Pella Christian Head Football Coach Rich Kacmarynski is among the top 50 of hundreds of coaches nominated around the country for the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach.

As of Friday, Coach Kac was 6th overall. Currently, voting is underway to narrow the field down to the top 15.

At the end of the program, two coaches will be recognized on the field at the Jan. 1 Under Armour High School All-America Game and receive $5,000 each for their school.

“Coach Kac is the Most Valuable Coach for his passion and love of his players. In the end, he does not care about the scoreboard (though that is important), but he cares about the man you have become or will develop to be,” is how nominators described Kacmarynski. “Coach Kac is a role model to so many, and his attitude and life perspective should be a standard for all. He is a great example of a man who does the right thing, even when it’s tough. He uses football as means to teach players how to be respectable young men.”

U.S. Cellular’s Most Valuable Coach program honors high school football head coaches who have a positive impact on their players, students and local communities. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorite coach among the top 50 nominees between now and noon on Oct.17 at TheMostValuableCoach.com.

There are eight Iowa coaches among the top 50. Kacmarynski is joined by Matt Berkley of Mason City, South Central Calhoun’s Bryan Case, Emmetsburg’s Mike Dunlap, Joe Hadachek of Union, Marion’s Tim Lovell, Steve Milder of West Central and West Delaware’s Doug Winkowitsch.

Following this first round of voting, the 15 coaches who earn the most votes will advance to the final round and receive $1,000 from U.S. Cellular for their school to use however they choose. The company also will host a celebratory event to honor each coach and create a short video detailing the coach’s story.

The two winning coaches will be determined by a second vote from Oct. 20 to Nov. 18 and will be announced as a U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach on Nov. 21. The winning coaches and their guests will receive a trip to Orlando, Florida, and be recognized live on the Citrus Bowl’s field during the nationally-televised Under Armour High School All-America Game on ESPN.