SENECA, Mo. — The Missouri State High School Activities Association this week announced its 2025-26 NFHS/MSHSAA Coach of the Year Award winners, one of whom is Seneca head football coach Cody Hilburn.
Each year, the Missouri State High School Activities Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations recognize one coach in each sport in Missouri with their highest honor.
According to MSHSAA, each award is presented to an individual who has made a lifelong commitment to the ideals of coaching interscholastic sports.
Seneca’s football team under Hilburn has made three straight appearances in the Class 3 title game and last year defeated the Lift for Life Hawks 33-26 at the 2025 MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl at Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph.
It was the first state football title for the Indians since the school’s undefeated 1995 team.
The Indians lost their two previous state title matches, against Central (Park Hills) in 2023 and Blair Oaks in 2024.
Hilburn is a 2001 graduate of Seneca High School. He played tight end at Missouri Southern State University for coaches Bill Cooke and John Ware.
He served as an assistant coach in Seneca for five seasons, then spent 10 years at Carthage, serving under coach Jon Guidie.
He returned to Seneca, replacing Ryan McFarland, who went back to his alma mater, Webb City.
According to the Seneca School District, last season Seneca averaged 46.9 points per game, winning its games by an average margin of 28.7 points.
“Individual recognition followed the team’s success, with Seneca earning 10 All-State honorees, including Hilburn,” according to the school district.
Hilburn has guided Seneca to a 63-12 overall record.
“Congratulations to each of our 2025-26 Coaches of the Year on this well-deserved recognition,” MSHSAA Executive Director Jennifer Rukstad said in a statement. “These outstanding coaches represent the very best of education-based activities through their leadership, commitment and positive influence. Their impact extends far beyond wins and losses, helping student-athletes grow as competitors, teammates and young people.”