East Rutherford, NJ – The New York Giants have selected Coach John "Rusty" Virkler from Owego Free Academy in Owego, NY as the High School Flag Football Coach of the Week for week 9 of the 2025 season.

The High School Flag Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants' continuing effort to support local high school flag football programs. Each week during the high school girls flag football season, the Giants will select one area high school head coach as the Coach of the Week winner. The selection is based on the coach's continuing commitment towards promoting youth football, developing motivated student-athletes and contributing overall to their community.

In recognition of Coach Virkler's selection as Coach of the Week, a $2,000 check from The Giants Foundation will be given to the Owego Free Academy's girls flag football program. Coach Virkler will also receive a certificate of recognition signed by Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll and will be honored at a recognition ceremony after the season and at a 2025 Giants preseason home game.

In the 2025 season, Virkler has led the River Hawks to a perfect 15-0 record, capturing their second consecutive Section IV title for their division. They will now compete for the New York State Title. The team out scored Susquehanna Valley, 44-6, to win the Section IV Class C title and recently beat Section 9's champion Rhinebeck High School, 38-7, in the first round of the New York State Class C Championship. In 2022, Owego Free Academy was among one of the first high schools to create a girl's flag football program back and has created a winning culture under Head Coach Rusty Virkler.

Virkler is a Section IV alum where he attended Vestal High School and went on to play football at Hartwick College. He is currently an elementary school teacher at Owego Free Academy and serves as an assistant high school tackle football and bowling coach. He coaches alongside his father, Steve Virkler, who serves as an assistant coach for the girls flag football team and was previously the head tackle football coach of Owego Free Academy for 27 years. Coach Rusty Virkler's student-athletes credit him for his ability to get the best out of his athletes, while instilling the importance of hard work and dedication.

"Coach Virkler is the reason flag football started at Owego. He came to me asking about starting a team when flag football was being piloted for NYS," said Ryan Hallenbeck, Athletic Director of Owego Free Academy. "Rusty led the charge not only for our school but our Section and has not looked back since growing Owego into a flag football power. Coach Virkler brings incredible energy and passion to every practice and game, inspiring athletes to give their best and reminding us all why we love the sport. His dedication and enthusiasm are contagious. He has created a great environment around flag football at Owego—thank you, Coach, for your leadership and commitment to excellence!"