Dale Mueller, head football coach at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Ky., was announced today as the 2008 season winner of the Paul Brown Excellence in Coaching Award.

The award, given annually by the Bengals to an outstanding high school football coach in the region, includes a $5000 donation by the Bengals to the Highlands High athletic department.

Mueller, a Fort Thomas native and a Highlands graduate, has had nothing short of remarkable success at his alma mater. In 15 seasons (1994-2008) as head coach, he has won seven state championships, with a record of 188-33 (.851 winning percentage). Although Highlands’ student enrollment is that of a Kentucky Class 3A school, the Bluebirds have accepted the option to play in the Class 5A ranks the past two seasons, and they have won the state title each year, posting a 15-0 record in 2007 and a 14-1 mark in 2008.

Mueller holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in education from Xavier. In 1981, after four years in private business, he joined Newport (Ky.) High School as a teacher and assistant football coach. He moved to Cincinnati’s Western Hills HS in 1983, and he took his first football head coaching job at Cincinnati’s Withrow HS in 1985. After six years at Withrow, he was head coach for three years at Sycamore High before returning to Highlands.

In addition to his football success at Highlands, he is an accomplished academic instructor, teaching courses that range from entry level algebra to advanced physics.

Dale and his wife, Patty, have four children and will celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary in August.

Mike Brown, Bengals president, presented the award to Mueller today, during the team’s annual Pre-Training Camp Media Luncheon at Paul Brown Stadium.

“Dale has provided a wonderful example of how to blend great athletic success with the prime focus of achievement in the classroom,” Brown said. “He has been a leader in forging the powerhouse high school football reputation enjoyed by the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area, and we are proud to lend support to his efforts.”

Mueller is the eighth coach to receive the Paul Brown Excellence in Coaching Award. Previous winners have been Jeff Giesting of Anderson (2007 season), Scott Datillo of Sycamore (2006), Steve Specht of St. Xavier (2005), Charles “Doc” Gamble of Withrow (2004), Doug Ramsey of Elder (2003), and Vince Suriano of Anderson and Mike Martin of Taft (2002 co-winners).