Cochrane continues to be known as a place to nurture football players and much of that is due to the high level of coaching provided.

Sunday night, Football Alberta gave Cochrane's its due respect by recognizing three Cochrane coaches from two different teams as Coaches of the Year.

Jim Forrest, of the tier III Cochrane Cobras, and Cam Cote and Darryl Korody, of the tier IV  Bow Valley Bobcats, were among the recipients of the award in a year both Cochrane teams won their respective provincial championships.

Cam Cote, who called offense for the Bobcats last season,said it was a honour to receive the award but was more excited about what it says about the Cochrane football community as a whole.

"When you have three award winners coming out of Cochrane that's a great day for Cochrane football. It's a Cochrane moment."

Darryl Korody joined the staff of Bow Valley High School two years ago in the fall and his passion for football lead him to the Bobcats. He is one of the Bobcats teacher reps, ran special teams and also assisted Cote with offense.

Korody wasn't surprised a member of the Bobcats' coaching staff was nominated, but didn't think it would be him.

"That's what happened when you win provincials, you get nominated. But for me to win was definitely surprising. It was an honour to be nominated."

Jim Forrest is one of the best known linesmen and defense coaches in Cochrane. He's been coaching football since 1976 and along the way has helped to develop players from atom and up in the Cochrane Lions program and has been with the Cobras for 19 seasons. He's been a huge part of the Cobras coaching team that has won10 provincial tier 3 championships. Along the way he helped groom linesmen and 10 of them have since gone on to play university football and two have played professionally in the CFL. 

Forrest said the award could have gone to anyone on the Cobras' coaching staff.

"I've known for awhile but I was surprised when I first got the news because it's usually a head coach oriented award, but Bruce (O'Neil) and Robbie (McNab) were kind enough to nominate me," says Forrest. "Really, any of our staff could have been in there because our success is a group success. We've had a core group that's been together for a long time and that's really important and pretty rare, too, for high school football."

For the second consecutive year, Forrest has headed the defense for the south team in the Alberta Senior Bowl and was impressed with how quickly the players picked up the defensive plan in just three practices.

"I had fun last year and it's another great year."