On Sunday, Northern Kentucky Youth Athletics (NKYA) brought players, coaches, and families together to celebrate an outstanding season with their annual football banquets. The event honored athletes across multiple teams in the youth Bandits division and the middle school Cougars division for their dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the year. Coaches presented awards recognizing individual achievements and team milestones, while families enjoyed a day of community spirit and reflection on the season’s successes. The celebration highlighted NKYA’s mission of building character through athletics and fostering pride in youth sports across Boone County. 

A highlight of the day was an appearance by (now) Conner varsity coach Chase Floyd, who spoke to the NKYA 7th and 8th grade Cougars.  Coach Floyd underscored his belief that the future of Conner football starts with our youngest Bandits and Cougars and their families. He emphasized building a program that does things the right way on and off the field, focuses on discipline and accountability, and reflects the pride of Conner High School and the Francisville/Hebron/Burlington community.

Today, Conner High School formally announced their hiring of Chase Floyd as their new head football coach, bringing leadership, energy, and a deep commitment to Cougar football and the community.

Floyd replaces, longtime Conner High School head football coach and business teacher David “Dave” Trosper, who died at the age of 55. Trosper, the region’s longest-tenured football coach at the time, passed away at his home on June 7, 2025, from an apparent heart attack. He had led Conner’s program since 2007 after an earlier head coaching stint at Holmes High School. Former Beechwood head coach and state champion, Noel Rash served in a one-year interim head coaching role for the 2025 season.

Floyd is a Boone County High School graduate and played college football at the University of Louisville. Floyd is the son of former Conner assistant coach, George Floyd. The elder Floyd is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and played for the New York Jets after wining a D-2 National Championship and being named an All-American at Eastern Kentucky University.

NKYA President shared, "As an organization, NKYA is excited to see Coach Floyd lead a program that connects NKYAthletics school athletes with the high school team, creating one unified Cougar family from the youth Bandits, to the middle school Cougars, and up through high school varsity. I know the entire community - even beyond those associated with athletics - joins us in welcoming Coach Floyd, his family, and his staff to their new roles and in supporting them as we begin this next chapter of Conner football together."

The banquet celebrations honored the Starter and Junior Division teams on their Northern Kentucky Youth Football League championships as well as the 7th Grade team on their Regional Championship and Kentucky State Runner Up season. Corbin Everett and Chase McGonegle were honored with the Bandits Legacy Award. Other conference and state level individual honors were recognized for the middle school Cougars. Seventh graders Tommy Clifton, Julian Delgado, and Cole Nipper were recognized for Norsemen Conference Player of the Week. Eighth graders Max Ellis and Matthew Bellew were recognized for the same. Seventh grade Regional Player of the Year nominees were Tommy Clifton, Jack Driscoll, Izak Flannery, Will Johnson, Weston Lutz, and Cole Nipper. Eighth grade Regional Player of the Year nominees were Matthew Bellew, Mitchell Deters, Max Ellis, Zane Madden, and Lucas Topmiller. Topmiller was also honored with the Cougars Legacy Award. 

Tommy Clifton received the highest Norsemen Conference honors, being named seventh grade Player of the Year. The honor marks the second year in a row that the Cougars program has featured a Player of the Year (Blake Johnson, 2024 Eighth Grade).