Herb Estep Honored

Receives 2021 MD AAU’s “Overcoming Adversity” Award

This year’s recipient has more than 30 years mentoring and coaching youth and young adults. For more than 20 years, he has amassed several city’s state and national championships and honors as a Pop-Warner, Semi-Pro and High School football Coach.  He is a AAU Boys Basketball Tournament Assistant, AAU Football Sports Director, former basketball official, life guard, umpire, baseball player and all around sport. 

In 2012, when diagnosed with Asbestosis, he became dependent on oxygen. His abilities were limited; however, he continued his passion to coach and mentor young men while being supported by family and friends. As his lung disease progressed, he medically retired from the Housing Authority of Baltimore City with more than 30 years of service.

However, refused to let his disease define or hinder his ability to coach football, assist with Maryland AAU Boys Basketball Tournaments and mentor young men.  In December of 2019, He received a double lung transplant. During his recovery and the COVID-19 pandemic, He discussed on several occasions his return to coaching football. His love and dedication to positively impact the lives of youth and young adults he encountered kept his drive to return to not only attend many high school and college games continuing to support the players in their many endeavors.  

As the AAU tackle football sports chair, he assists with the national tournament and traveled to Orlando, Florida in 2021 to represent the Maryland District AAU Football. He returned to coaching football on the high school and semi pro-levels in 2021. In May 2022, He coached his semi-pro football team where they won the League’s Championship. In August 2022, he returned to coaching youth football with the Old Town Gators. 

He is married to Tracey, they have four children, eight grandchildren, and one Great-granddaughter.