The Buffalo Bills are excited to recognize three high school girls flag football coaches as this year's Coaches of the Year.
Aimed at highlighting varsity girls flag football coaches' efforts on and off the field, coaches from the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse regions were honored over the seven-week program and received $1,000 for their teams. Coaches Chris Edwards (Buffalo region), Mike Wilkinson (Rochester region) and Ryan Aldrich (Syracuse region) were all recognized earlier this year as Coaches of the Week and are now further recognized as Coaches of the Year for their efforts.
These coaches were invited to attend a Buffalo Bills minicamp practice earlier this spring as a way to celebrate their achievement and grow the game of football.
Buffalo Region (Section VI) Coach Chris Edwards – Head Coach at Pioneer High School
Pioneer head coach Christopher Edwards was named the Buffalo region Coach of the Year. One of the longest-tenured high school coaches across multiple sports, as well as the school's athletic director since 2024, Edwards has served as the varsity girls flag football head coach for three years, since the program's inception.
He has been Pioneer's boys varsity football coach for 18 years as defensive coordinator, while coaching varsity wrestling and varsity tennis for 25 and 22 years, respectively. He is in the Western New York Wrestling Hall of Fame as a coach.
A 1991 Pioneer graduate, Edwards rapidly made his mark on the flag program as the Panthers have compiled a 41-3 record in the program's three years of existence, including two division championships and two Section VI championships. In 2025, Pioneer captured the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) title over Owego Free Academy, 13-12, in overtime. In doing so, Pioneer became the first school from Section VI to win a state title in flag football. His daughter, Ellie, the team's then-sophomore quarterback, was a key contributor, which prompted her selection as the Buffalo Bills Maxwell Award Nominee in 2025.
Pioneer finished with a 16-1 overall record in 2025. The Panthers outscored their opponents, 663-82. Edwards' mantra to further team culture is "Find A Way."
"I wanted to be a coach so I could help kids see the values of sports and how they can help make you a better person," he said.
Rochester Region (Section V) Coach Mike Wilkinson – Head Coach at Hornell High School
Hornell head coach Mike Wilkinson was named the Rochester region Coach of the Year. He is credited with building an incredible culture and excitement around the sport in the Hornell community.
"In athletics, you need to work to earn the things that you achieve," explained Wilkinson. "I believe in instilling a passion and love for the sport in my athletes, while at the same time encouraging them to become a better version of themselves."
Wilkinson's favorite memory is the first game of their inaugural season and seeing the girls rewarded for their hard work and dedication throughout the winter. Hornell not only earned the victory but were supported by the community and fans who attended.
Syracuse Region (Section III) Coach Ryan Aldrich – Head Coach at Fayetteville-Manlius High School
Fayetteville-Manlius head coach Ryan Aldrich was named the Syracuse region Coach of the Year and Fayetteville-Manlius won the Class B sectional title
Coach Aldrich has been a teacher at Fayetteville-Manlius High School for 10 years. In that time, he has been an assistant coach for tackle football for seven years, a modified wrestling coach for two years and started the flag football program in 2025, where he has been the head coach for the past two seasons.
"My coaching philosophy is to build a fast, aggressive, and resilient flag football program," said Aldrich. "I emphasize teamwork and trust, skill development, a relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the field, playing fast with an aggressive mindset on both sides of the ball, and a positive, competitive culture that athletes can carry into all areas of life."
The Fayetteville-Manlius Flag Football team helped local food pantries and raised awareness about breast cancer to further support their team motto, "leaving a legacy."
Coach Aldrich's favorite flag football memory is winning the Section III Championship in the team's inaugural year.
