CEDAR FALLS — A pair of area football coaches will be recognized for their outstanding work both on and off the field here Thursday evening.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association will formally honor South Central Calhoun’s Bryan Case and Webster City’s Bob Howard at halftime of the Class 3A state championship game inside the UNI-Dome.

Case is being placed in the Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Howard is receiving the prestigious Walt Fiegel Coaching with Character Award.

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. Former Southern Cal standout player Wesley Beschorner will also be named a new Hall of Fame player honoree, and current SCC assistant Jeff Boerner is receiving an award as the top assistant by the IFCA.

A graduate of Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Schools and Northwestern College, Case spent two years as an assistant at Northwestern, which included their 1994 NAIA national semifinal team.

At Southern Cal, he started as a six-year assistant, contributing to three straight playoff teams including the undefeated 2000 Class 1A state champions while teaching physical education and health.

In the last 17 years, Case has led the school to 11 more playoff berths including back-to-back Class A state championships in 2008 and 2009. This fall, he guided the Titans to an 8-1 regular season slate and the playoffs, improving his 17-year record to 139-45.

Case has served on the IFCA Board of Directors for nine years. He is currently on the IHSAA playoff advisory committee.

Case and his wife, Kari, are the parents of Kiana, Kyler and Kody.

Howard graduated from Madrid High School and Central College. He started a 41-year career as an assistant coach to Blaine Kading at Perry.

Howard was the head coach at Scranton for three years, which included a trip to the 1978 playoffs. He then moved to Sigourney, helping forge the Sigourney-Keota program during a 27-year stay that yielded 15 playoff trips and state titles in 1995, 2001 and 2005.

In the past 11 seasons, Howard has revitalized Webster City football with a 79-38 record and 10 straight playoff appearances including last year’s Class 3A runner-up finish. His career record of 330-95 is ninth best all time and fifth among active coaches.

Howard was inducted into the IFCA Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 1995, and was a three-time State Coach of the Year in his class. He was a finalist for the NFHS National Coach of the Year in 2007, a Shrine Bowl Coach and a past president of the IFCA.

Howard is the 14th recipient of the prestigious Walt Fiegel Coaching with Character Award. He has one son, Clint, whose wife Jess and three children also live in Webster City.