The usual morning convocation at Cuyahoga Heights High School (CHHS) took a surprising and exciting turn when Head Football Coach Al Martin was presented with the 2024-2025 Build the Bridge Coach of the Year Award before students and staff.
Founded by Cleveland Heights High School Football Coach Kahari Hicks, “Build the Bridge” is designed to empower, develop and unify high school football teams through meaningful interactions between programs of different racial and/or socio-economic demographics. The initiative aims to break down racial barriers and bring people of different backgrounds together.
"He has been one of the biggest supporters of bringing people of all racial and socio-economic classes together through athletics," said Hicks in presenting the award to Martin.
Martin has been CHHS Head Football Coach for more than 20 years. During that time, he has provided numerous opportunities for the football team to interact with schools and people of different races and backgrounds. This includes a scrimmage and cookout with Cleveland Central Catholic High School to start the football season. “It was about more than just football,” commented Cuyahoga Heights Schools’ Assistant Superintendent George Burich. “It is about getting young people together and teaching them that sports are an opportunity to learn about what we have in common with people from different communities, backgrounds, and cultures.” Other opportunities Martin has provided include Build the Bridge-sponsored activities such as 7-on-7 competitions and the Public Speaking Seminar. When he’s not on the sidelines, Martin teaches Algebra at CHHS.
In accepting the award, Martin humbly redirected the credit to Hicks, saying, "Coach Hicks is the one who deserves all of the credit today. He is the one who has done a ton of the legwork on trying to build bridges between communities. We have been happy to participate, and it has been good for our kids—I want to thank him very much."
Martin is in good company. Past recipients of the award have included Head Football Coaches Charles Saulter of Twinsburg High School, Tom DeLuca of Olmsted Falls High School, Ten Ginn of Glenville High School, Damion Creel of Lorain High School, and Tiger LaVerde of Kirtland High School.
Pictured left to right: Cuyahoga Heights Schools' Assistant Superintendent George Burich, Kahari Hicks, Build the Bridge founder, and CHHS Head Football Coach Al Martin.