[00:00:02] **Announcer:**
It’s time to get in the loop with LPS, the official podcast of Liberty Public Schools. From the latest school and district news updates on various district hot topics and opportunities to meet all of those that help make LPS great, *In the Loop with LPS* is here to provide yet another opportunity for us to stay connected with you.

[00:00:24] **Announcer:**
So let’s get started and send you to the longtime Director of Communications with Liberty Public Schools and your host of *In the Loop with LPS*, Dallas Ackerman.

[00:00:36] **Dallas Ackerman:**
It was a morning to remember from Liberty High School on Tuesday, December tenth, as the forty-second annual **Simone Awards** were held inside the Liberty High School Fieldhouse. Two gentlemen who were a big part of the award ceremony join us this week on *In the Loop*. They include longtime Blue Jay football coach Chad Frigon from Liberty High School.

[00:00:59] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Coach Frigon was awarded the Kansas City Chiefs Eric Driscoll Coach of the Year award. We are also joined by a guy who made some pretty big news — the 2024 Sam Mellinger Award winner, which goes to the best high school football player in the Kansas City area. He is Liberty High School senior **Jaxon Hicks**. Gentlemen, so great to have you join me this week.

[00:01:25] **Chad Frigon:**
Thank you, Dallas. Thanks for having us.

[00:01:27] **Dallas Ackerman:**
My goodness — where do we start? Coach, I’ll start with you. What was your takeaway from last Tuesday? One of the biggest LPS events I’ve been to in my twenty-plus years in the district.

[00:01:43] **Chad Frigon:**
It was such a great recognition not only of our team, but of our school and the entire event. The Simone family has done an incredible job over the forty years these awards have been given — not only memorializing their son, but raising money, donating money, and recognizing so many student-athletes since Tommy passed away in 1983.

[00:02:14] **Chad Frigon:**
It was a great event for our school. The students were receptive and appreciative of everything that took place.

[00:02:23] **Dallas Ackerman:**
The audience was tremendous. That’s a long program, and they were engaged the entire time.

[00:02:35] **Chad Frigon:**
Yeah. Jaxon told me beforehand he wasn’t nervous — eighteen games into the season — but once he walked in and saw that gym packed, he felt it.

[00:02:40] **Jaxon Hicks:**
Yeah, I hadn’t been nervous in a while, but when I walked in and saw how full the gym was, my legs were shaking. It was amazing — definitely one of the best days I’ve had.

[00:02:58] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Jaxon, did you think you had a chance to win this award as the season progressed?

[00:03:31] **Jaxon Hicks:**
Honestly, I didn’t really know what the ceremony was until I was up for it. I knew I had a great season — leading the state in rushing yards and being up there in touchdowns — but I was just playing football and didn’t know what to expect.

[00:04:07] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Coach Frigon, do you remember your first impressions of Jaxon?

[00:04:30] **Chad Frigon:**
I remember watching the freshman team and seeing his talent early. He was also a varsity wrestler as a freshman. He didn’t fully emerge until his junior year, and even then he split carries. This year, when Drew Olson was injured, Jaxon stepped up and never complained — always a team-first kid.

[00:05:43] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Jaxon, you made a point to thank your offensive line during the ceremony.

[00:06:02] **Jaxon Hicks:**
They put in so much work. They watched film together without coaches and worked their butts off all season. I genuinely couldn’t have done it without them.

[00:06:32] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Coach, just weeks before this, you were named Kansas City Chiefs Metro Coach of the Year.

[00:07:06] **Chad Frigon:**
It’s an honor, but this program is not a one-man job. So many people work behind the scenes. Being recognized with Coach Driscoll’s name attached to it means a lot.

[00:08:55] **Dallas Ackerman:**
You’ve coached for over three decades. How has football changed?

[00:09:09] **Chad Frigon:**
A lot has changed, but relationships haven’t. Kids are pulled in more directions now, but it still comes down to loving the game, putting in the work, and growing as people.

[00:10:01] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Jaxon, talk about your experience playing for Coach Frigon.

[00:10:13] **Jaxon Hicks:**
He brings energy every day and cares about you on and off the field. If your grades aren’t right or you’re making bad choices, he’s going to hold you accountable — because he wants you to be a better man.

[00:21:19] **Chad Frigon:**
He’s the opposite of a me-first athlete. He’s quiet, humble, and always team-first. He never complains and always gives his best.

[00:23:31] **Jaxon Hicks:**
The best advice I’ve ever received came from my mom after my oldest brother passed away. She told me every day is a blessing, and what you do with it is up to you.

[00:24:05] **Jaxon Hicks:**
I wear number twenty-five to honor my brother. He passed away at twenty-five, and it’s my way of keeping him with me.

[00:26:00] **Jaxon Hicks:**
What meant the most was seeing people I hadn’t seen in years come out to support me — people who loved my family and my brother. That made it incredibly special.

[00:28:09] **Jaxon Hicks:**
Beating Liberty North my senior year is something I’ll never forget. I’m going to miss playing high school football here.

[00:29:29] **Jaxon Hicks:**
Recruiting is still ongoing. I’ll be making a decision in the next couple of months.

[00:30:40] **Chad Frigon:**
Balance is important. Family comes first. If you don’t take care of that, you burn out. I’ve been fortunate to coach here and still be present for my family.

[00:32:10] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Chad Frigon and **Jaxon Hicks**, thank you both for joining us. Congratulations on an incredible season and these well-deserved honors.

[00:32:31] **Announcer:**
Thanks for choosing to spend a few minutes with us and getting in the loop with LPS. This has been a production of the Liberty Public Schools Communications Office.

[00:32:58] **Announcer:**
For more about this podcast and all you need to know about LPS, visit lps53.org.