J.C. Pinkney - Frederick Douglass Football

J.C. Pinkney, who has led Prince George's County's Frederick Douglass High School football team for 13 years, is the County Sports Zone/Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of the Month for October.

Before this season, Coach Pinkney had an overall record of 111-33, and has led the Screaming Eagles to the MPSSAA playoffs for the last 11 years. And with a record of 8-0 this season, Douglass sits atop the playoff points standings in the MPSSAA's Class 2A South Region.

But the best part of his job, Coach Pinkney said recently one day before practice, "is seeing the kids come back."

And making his point, former Douglass, University of Maryland and San Diego Chargers great Shawne Merriman was at practice after spending the day at the Upper Marlboro school, talking to the players in a team study hall.

Merriman, who lives in Los Angeles and does work for the NFL Network and the Big 10 Network, said Coach Pinkney "knew how to push you to get the best out of you."

"You knew how much he cared about you," said Merriman, a 2002 graduate of Douglass, where he played fullback and tight end in addition to linebacker. Coach Pinkney was the offensive coordinator during Merriman's high school career.

A 1993 graduate of Bowie High School, Coach Pinkney was a two-time all conference fullback at West Virginia Wesleyan, where he graduated from in 1998, he said.

This year's Douglass squad "could be the best team that I've ever coached," Pinkney said. "The 2005-2006 team that lost to Sherwood in the state semifinals was good, but this team is more focused, and bigger up front."

For being named County Sports Zone/Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of the Month, Coach Pinkney received a gift certificate, a box of sauces and a hat from Buffalo Wild Wings, and a County Sports Zone Under Armour t-shirt.

If you'd like to make a nomination for next month's County Sports Zone/Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of The Month, click here.

Congratulations to Coach J.C. Pinkney!