NHSCA announces 2014 National Coaches of the Year

by Jeff Fisher

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The National High School Coaches Association announced the winners for its 2014 National High School Coach of the Year Awards this week. This is the 15th year straight year the NHSCA has honored these achievers in the high school coaching community nationwide. 

This year’s recipients, selected in a total of 20 boys and girls sports, are from 16 different states. California leads the way with three coaches being honored, followed by Michigan and New Jersey with two each and 13 states claiming one honoree each.

While these coaches represent a multitude of different backgrounds, they exhibit a common theme: a strong dedication to supporting and developing high school student-athletes.

“This announcement is always a lot of fun for me,” said NHSCA Executive Director Bob Ferraro, Jr. “The coaches we are honoring today are outstanding examples for successful high school coaches in their sport. They place a high value on the teamwork skills their players learn for success in the classroom and on the field, and we are proud to be honoring all of them.”

Each one of the honorees will be honored in the National High School Sports Hall of Fame Museum that the NHSCA will be building in the near future.

Following are the NHSCA’s selections as the 2014 National High School Coaches of the Year, along with a list of past winners.

2104 NHSCA National Baseball Coach of the Year

Ken Frank – Toms River South High School, Toms River, New Jersey

This past season Ken Frank became the first high school baseball coach in New Jersey to pass the 800 win milestone.  Frank, who took over the reigns of the Toms River South baseball program in 1978, finished the 2014 season with a career record of 806-262-3 in 36 seasons.  Ken’s brother Bill Frank (502-279-2), resigned at the end of the current school year after coaching in the same New Jersey community at Toms River East High School.  Together, the Frank brothers have won a combined 1308 high school baseball games. Current Cincinnati Red Todd Frazier is Ken Frank’s most famous alum.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Baseball Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Phil Clark – Bartlett High School, Bartlett, Tennessee

2012 – Gene Schultz – Kee HS, Iowa

2011 – Tom O’Connell – Catholic Central HS, Wisconsin

2010 -  Jerry Dawson – Chaparral HS, Arizona

2009 – Guy Anderson – Cordova HS, California

2008 – Jerry Boatner – West Lauderdale HS, Florida

2007 – Ron Eastman – The Woodlands, Texas

2006 – Scott Salow – Homer HS, Michigan

2005 – Stan McKeever – La Cueva HS, New Mexico

2004 – Jeff Griffith – Cactus HS, Arizona

2003 – Jim Danley – Eaton HS, Colorado

2002 – John Lowery – Jefferson HS, West Virginia

2001 – Rich Hofman – Westminster Academy, Florida

2000 – Sam Blalock – Rancho Bernardo, California

2104 NHSCA National Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year

Gary McKnight – Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, California

Coach McKnight, who has a .921 winning percentage in 32 seasons as the head coach at Mater Dei, led the Monarchs to their fourth straight California state championship this past season.  McKnight led Mater Dei to a perfect 35-0 record during the 2013-14 season, and now owns 995 overall victories, which puts him 13^th on the all-time wins list, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.  McKnight’s teams have won 31 league titles, 22 Southern Section titles and 11 overall state titles.  Each of his last ten teams have won 30 games or more.

Past winners of NHSCA National Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Tony Harper – Montwood HS, Texas

2012 – Douglas Lipscomb – Wheeler HS, Georgia

2011 – Vito Montelli – St. Joseph HS, Connecticut

2010 -  Harvey Kitani – Fairfax HS, California

2009 -  Jack Curran – Archbishop Molloy, New York

2008 – Dick Katte – Denver Christian HS, Colorado

2007 – Bob Hurley, Sr. – St. Anthony HS, New Jersey

2006 – Jack Keefer, Lawrence North HS, Indiana

2005 – Robert Hughes, Dunbar HS, Texas

2004 – Charles Smith, Peabody Magnet HS, Louisiana

2003 – Dave Garvin, Philomath HS, Oregon

2002 – Jack Butcher, Loogootee HS, Indiana

2001 – Bob Williams, Schaumburg HS, Illinois

2000 – Russell Otis, Dominguez HS, California

2014 NHSCA National Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year

Mike Kopp – Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown, PA

Coach Kopp became the first girls’ basketball coach in Pennsylvania history to top the 900-win plateau this past season.  Kopp, who has led the Vikettes to five Pennsylvania state championships in 34 years at the school, led the school to a 23-5 record this past season.  Kopp now owns 917 lifetime victories with an overall record of 843-190 at Allentown Central Catholic.  Under Kopp, Allentown Central Catholic has reached the PIAA state tournament 29 times.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Miner Webster, Highland HS, Arizona

2012 – David Schlabach – Hiland HS, Ohio

2011 – Kevin Kiernan – Mater Dei HS, California

2010 -  Cathy Self-Morgan – Duncanville HS – Texas

2009 – Brian Harrigan – Sacred Heart Cathedral HS, California

2008 -  Dorothy Gaters – John Marshall HS, Illinois

2007 -  Leta Andrews – Granbury HS, Texas

2006 -  Bob Mackey – Christ the King HS, New York

2005 -  Brad Smith – Oregon City HS, Oregon

2004 – Ed Grezinsky – Murry Bergtraum HS, New York

2003 – Joe Lombard – Canyon HS, Texas

2002 – Dave Houle – Mountain View HS, Utah

2001 – James Anderson – Narbonne HS, California

2000 – Gerald Whaley – William Mason HS, Ohio

2014 NHSCA National Boys’ Cross County Coach of the Year

Mark Wieczorek – Gig Harbor High School, Gig Harbor, Washington

Mark Wieczorek led the Gig Harbor Tides to the Nike Cross Nationals title in the most contested championship in United States history in 2013. Gig Harbor defeated eventual Indoor National Champion Christian Brothers Academy of New Jersey and eventual Postal National Champion Brentwood High School from Tennessee for the national championship at the NXN in 2013.  Wieczorek, who never competed in cross country in high school, took over the Gig Harbor program in 2011 and has built it into a national power in three short years.  Wieczorek, who took-up competitive running while at Nazarene University, an NAIA school, ran for Team USA in the 4X800 World Relays in May 2014.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Boys’ Cross Country Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Jeff Morris – Perham High School, Perham, Minnesota

2012 – Laurens TenKate – Calvin Christian HS, Michigan

2011 – Adam Kedge – Albuquerque Academy, New Mexico

2010 – Walt Lang – Jesuit HS, California

2009 – Mike Holman – Lawrence Central, Indiana

2008 – Van Rose – Shawnee Mission Northwest HS, Kansas

2007 – Bill Greiten – Gillett HS, Wisconsin

2006 – Rick Baker – Hopi HS, Arizona

2005 – Davis Eidahl – Perkin HS, Iowa

2004 – Dan Green – The Woodlands, Texas

2003 – Joe Newton – York Community HS, Illinois

2002 – Rich Trenoze – Bayonne HS, New Jersey

2001 – Don Behnke – Stevens Point HS, Wisconsin

2000 – Joe Newton – York HS, Illinois

2014 NHSCA National Girls’ Cross County Coach of the Year Award

Dave Emmans – Wayzata High School, Plymouth, Minnesota

Dave Emmans was the leader of the Wayzata girls’ cross country team that dethroned seven-time defending national champions Fayetteville Manlius High School from New York.  Wayzata, which called itself “Team of Steel” while posing in Superman t-shirts last season, claimed the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) National Championship in 2013.  Wayzata defeated Fayetteville Manlius 108-120 to cap a perfect season at the NXN.  Emmans, who has led Wayzata to back-to-back Minnesota 2A state championships, has been the program’s head coach for 22 years.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Boys’ Cross Country Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Jeff Devantier – Birmingham Seaholm High School, Michigan

2012 – Patrick Castagno – The Tatnall School, Delaware

2011 – Jim Tracy – University HS, California

2010 – Darrell Burmeister – Nodaway Valley HS - Iowa

2009 – Catherine Lempesis – Dutch Fork HS, South Carolina

2008 -  Jerry Popp – Willmar HS, Minnesota

2007 – Robert Ondrasek, Southlake Carroll HS, Texas

2006 – Mark Logan -RHAM Regional, Connecticut

2005 – Mike Woolsey – Lumen Christi HS, Michigan

2004 – Art & Linda Kranick – Saratoga Springs HS, New York

2003 – Michael Bauer – Regis HS, Oregon

2002 -  Jeff Arbogast – Bingham HS, Utah

2001 – George Varvas – Woodbridge HS, California

2000 – Steve Telaneus – Marcus HS, Texas

2014 NHSCA National Field Hockey Coach of the Year

Tara Worley- Lakeland High School, Suffolk, Virginia

Coach Worley, who retired at the end of the 2013 season, built Lakeland High School field hockey program into one of the best in the State of Virginia during her 15-years as head coach of the Lady Cavaliers.  Worley’s lifetime record stands at 250-46-3 with her 2010 squad winning Virginia’s Class AAA state title.  In addition to the 2010 state title, Worley coached her girls to two regional championships, 13 regular season Southeastern District titles, 12 district titles and one conference championship.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Girls’ Cross Country Coach of the Year Award

2013-  Eileen Donahue – Watertown HS, Massachusetts

2012 – Lillian “Lil” Shelton – Severna Park HS, Maryland

2011 – Wendy Wilson – Tabb HS, Virginia

2010 – Danyle Heilig – Eastern Regional HS, New Jersey

2009 – Karen Klassner – Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania

2008 -  Robin Chandler – The Hotchkiss School, Connecticut

2007 -  Sue Butz-Stavin – Emmaus HS – Pennsylvania

2006 -  Diane Chapman – Garden City HS – New York

2005 – Amy Longley – Hathaway Brown School, Ohio

2004 – Paul Doughty – Skowhegan HS, Maine

2003 – Debby Watson – Villa Duchesne HS, Missouri

2002 -  Diana Walker – Sanford HS, Maine

2001 – Bob Derr – Lititz HS, Pennsylvania

2000 -  Linda Nixon – Springfield Twp. HS, Pennsylvania

2014 NHSCA National Football Coach of the Year Award

Tom Westerberg – Allen High School, Allen, Texas

Coach Westerberg led the Allen Eagles to the school’s second straight Texas Class 5A, Division I title in 2013.  In 10 years as the leader of the Eagles, Westerberg’s teams have won three state titles in Texas’ biggest classification. Allen’s overall record under Westerberg is 118-16 with eight of his ten seasons as head coach ending with at least ten victories.  By finishing a perfect 16-0 in 2013, Allen will bring a 27-game win streak into the 2014 season. With the return of several key players including all-state quarterback Kyler Murray, the Allen Eagles are expected to challenge for a third straight state title.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Football Coach of the Year Award

2013 – J.T. Curtis, John Curtis, Louisiana

2012 – Chuck Lenahan – Plymouth HS, New Hampshire

2011 – George Smith – St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Florida

2010 – Jeremy Williams – Greenville HS, Georgia

2009 – John McKissick – Summerville HS , South Carolina

2008 – James Drewry – Booneville HS, Mississippi

2007 – Gary Rankin – Alcoa HS, Tennessee

2006 – Randy Allen – Highland Park HS, Texas

2005 – Charles “Corky” Roger – The Bolles School, Florida

2004 – Bob Ladouceur – De La Salle HS, California

2003 – Chris Jones – Heritage HS, Virginia

2002 – Alan Trimble – Jenks HS , Oklahoma

2001 – Bob Ladouceur – De La Salle HS, California

2000 – Mike Pettine, Sr. – Central Bucks West, Pennsylvania

2014 NHSCA National Boys’ Golf Coach of the Year

George Bitner, Spring Lake High School, Spring Lake, Michigan

This past school year saw George Bitner coach his 50^th year of high school golf. Bitner, who is 77 years old and showing no signs of wanting to retire, started the Spring Lake boys’ golf team in 1969 and the girls program in 1980.  Along the way, he has coached both teams to over 1,000 victories.  During an interview in the spring, Bitner figured that he had been behind the wheel of the school van for about 115,000 miles.  In that same interview, he said he still has about five years left in him and the 2014 girls’ team is expected to challenge for a state team title after finishing third in Michigan’s Division 3 finals last year.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Boys’ Golf Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Jim Jacobsen – Bergen Catholic HS, New Jersey

2012 – Jeff Doherty – Edmond North HS, Oklahoma

2011 – Larry Ries – Hunterdon Central HS, New Jersey

2010 – Darrell Berglund - Hazen HS, North Dakota

2009 – Jim Bennett - Grosse Ile HS, Michigan

2008 -  Richard Gaard - Decorah HS, Iowa

2007 – Terry Nelson - Whitefish HS, Montana

2006 – Marty Donlon - St. Xavier HS, Kentucky

2005 – Rob Prentiss - St. Charles North HS, Illinois

2004 – Bill Roller – Jenks HS, Oklahoma

2003 – Mark Kedy – Ada HS, Oklahoma

2002 – Mike Ellis - Canlais HS, Maine

2001 – David Hutton - Grandville HS, Michigan

2000 – Wayne Everett – Kingston HS, Tennessee

2014 NHSCA National Girls’ Golf Coach of the Year

Dave Gianferante, Notre Dame Academy, Hingham, Massachusetts

Dave Gianferante’s Notre Dame Academy team won the 2014 Massachusetts team title, which was its 12 in the last 13 years.  Prior to finishing fourth during the 2013 season, Gianferante’s teams had won 11 straight state titles while going 212-6 in team play that included 10 undefeated season and a 188-match win streak, which is the longest ever in high school girls’ golf.   Gianferante is listed third by the National Federation of High School Association’s all-time girls’ golf wins list with a record of 241-11.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Girls’ Golf Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Jodi Schoeck – Barrington HS, Illinois

2012 – Karen Gravley – Allen HS, Texas

2011 – Ryan Best – St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Kansas

2010 – Kathy Berglund - Hazen HS, North Dakota

2009 – Ken Van Den Boom – Caledonia HS, Minnesota

2008 – Carol Fromuth – St. Joseph’s Academy, Missouri

2007 – Dr. H. King Oehmig – The Baylor School, Tennessee

2006 – Jim Garrett – Penn HS, Indiana

2005 – Sister Lynn Winsor – Xavier College Prep, Arizona

2004 – Grayson Fitzhugh – Mount Notre Dame, Ohio

2003 – Mary Flande – Sisters HS, Oregon

2002 -  Dewey Stendahl – Middleton HS, Wisconsin

2001 – Sharon Most – Martinsville HS, Indiana

2000 – Donna Pierce – Highland Park HS, Texas

2014 NHSCA National Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year

Greg Vitello, De Smet High School, St. Louis, Missouri

Greg Vitello outlasted eight United States’ presidents while coaching 46-years at De Smet Jesuit High School.  During those four-plus decades, Vitello coached boys’ soccer, baseball, football, swimming and track & field. Vitello retires third on America’s all-time boys’ soccer wins list with 763 victories.  His career record is 763-296-135 in soccer.  Five of his players played on the U.S. National Soccer Teams.  In baseball, he coached two future MLB players – 2003 American League batting champ Bill Mueller and Bob Keppel. Vitello retired at the end of the 2013-14 school year.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Paul Rose – Jesuit HS, California

2012 – Andy Schulten – St. Xavier HS, Kentucky

2011 – Jerry Little – North Central HS, Indiana

2010 – Chuck Scanlon – Apple Valley HS, Minnesota

2009 – Craig Ewing – St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Kansas

2008 – John Kissner – Walsh Jesuit HS, Ohio

2007 – Gary Montalto – Arlington HS, New York

2006 -  Dave Pinkham – Gilford HS, New Hampshire

2005 – William Stara – River Hill HS, Maryland

2004 – Charlie Martel – St. Louis University HS, Missouri

2003 – Donald Gregg – Severna HS, Maryland

2002 – Shawn Brower – Orangewood Christian School, Florida

2001 – Bruno Schwarz – North Allegheny HS, Pennsylvania

2000 – John Stockton – Mountain View HS, Utah

2014 National Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year

Paul Heenehan, Ramapo High School, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

America’s winningest girls’ high school soccer coach, Paul Heenehan and his Ramapo girls’ soccer team finished runner-up in New Jersey’s Group 3 classification in 2013.  In 30 years at the helm, Heenehan has led the school to 12 state championships and one national championship while amassing a record of 691 wins. With a lifetime record of 691-81-23, Heenehan will have a chance next year to become the first girls’ soccer coach in America to win 700 games.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Vince Drake – Trinity Catholic HS, Missouri

2012 – Clare Collins – Broad Run HS, Virginia

2011 – Hank Tenney – Rivendell Academy, New Hampshire

2010 – Troy Tokarchik – Bishop Kelly HS, Oklahoma

2009 – Julie Bergstrom – Waubonsie HS, Illinois

2008 – Steve Racine – Kinnelon HS, New Jersey

2007 – Carlos Giron – St. Thomas Aquinas, Florida

2006 – Laura Rountree – M. Stoneman Douglas HS, Florida

2005 – Rusty Taylor – University HS, California

2004 – Jim Burnside – New Trier HS, Illinois

2003 – Douglas Freeman – Marlborough HS, Massachusetts

2002 – Maureen McVey – St. Joseph’s Academy, Missouri

2001 – Fred Dixon – Carmel HS, Indiana

2000 – James Gardner – Cheyenne East HS, Wyoming

2014 NHSCA National Softball Coach of the Year

Monte Sherrill, Alexander Central High School, Taylorsville, North Carolina

Monte Sherrill, who won his 700^th career game in 2013, has made a habit out of winning. This past year Sherrill led Alexander Central to its second straight North Carolina Class 4-A state title while running its win streak to 67 straight.  Counting his time at Central Cabarrus High School in the 90’s, Sherrill’s teams own a record of 724-59 for a winning percentage of .925.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Softball Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Robert Earl Radford – Northern HS, Maryland

2012 – Mark Schusterman – Gulliver Prep, Florida

2011 – Debbie Holcombe - Byrnes HS, South Carolina

2010 -  Robert Iamurri - Naples HS, Florida

2009 – Larry Niemeyer - Jefferson HS, Iowa

2008 – Wally Hausdorf - William Cullen HS, New York

2007 – Tony Scarbrough - Baker HS, Alabama

2006 – Jeff Griffith - Cactus HS, Arizona

2005 – James McClanahan - Fort Bend Elkins HS, Texas

2004 – Sammy Dunn -Vestavia Hills HS, Alabama

2003 – Glen Rutenbar - Bartow HS, Florida

2002 – Gary Adams - Crescent HS, South Carolina

2001 – Dwayne Ross – Weatherford HS, Texas

2000 – Shelly Bollin - Brazoswood HS, Texas

2014 NHSCA National Boys’ Swimming Coach of the Year

Joe Pereira, Skyline High School, Salt Lake City, Utah

The 2013-14 swim season say Joe Pereira add to his impress coaching resume by leading Skyline boys’ and girls’ swim teams to Utah Class 4A state titles.  In all, since taking over at Skyline in 2005, Pereira’s boys teams have won four state crowns, while this year’s girls’ title was the seventh overall and third in a row.  Prior to coming to the Skyline school, Pereira was the head coach at Cyprus High School where he led the boys’ team to two Utah state championships in 2000 and 2001.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Boys’ Swimming Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Kevin Kinel – Chesterton HS, Indiana

2012 – Dave Hanson – Bishop Hendricken HS, Rhode Island

2011 – Art Downey – Edina HS, Minnesota

2010 – Mel Roberts – Tooele HS, Utah

2009 – Mike Torrey – Zeeland West HS, Michigan

2008 – Marty O’Toole – St. Xavier HS, Kentucky

2007 – John Turner – Jenks HS, Oklahoma

2006 – Brian Metheny – Sunnyslope HS, Arizona

2005 – Mark Onstott – New Trier HS, Illinios

2004 – Jim Brower – St. Xavier HS, Ohio

2003 – Virginia Weber – Moorestown HS, New Jersey

2002 – Dr. Rick Creed – Parkview HS, Georgia

2001 – Dave Coffman – St. Xavier HS, Ohio

2000 – Larry Shofe – The Bolles School, Florida

2014 NHSCA National Girls’ Swimming Co-Coaches of the Year

Rich & Ron Blanc (Co-Head Coaches), Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Coaching swimming is a family affair at Santa Margarita Catholic High School where Rich and Ron Blanc have shared the head coaching duties for more than a decade.  The duo’s sister Renee Blanc is the girls’ JV head coach.  Together Rich (17 years) and Ron (19 years) have built the Eagles’ swim programs into one of the best in Southern California and the country.  This past year the girls’ team won its 15^th straight Trinity League title along with the CIF-SS Division 1 title. The two have coached 41 All-Americans and 226 All-CIF swimmers.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Girls’ Swimming Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Nick Frasersmith – Regis Jesuit, Colorado

2012 – Bruce Woodbury – New Trier HS, Illinois

2011 – Brian Gross – Charlotte Catholic HS, North Carolina

2010 – Marty Keating – Pittsford Central HS, New York

2009 – Kent Kirchner – The Woodlands, Texas

2008 – Pete Higgins – The Westminster Schools, Georgia

2007 – Jean Chard – Lafayette HS, Missouri

2006 – John Casadia – Vineland HS, New Jersey

2005 – Andy Pedersen – Hamilton Southeastern HS, Indiana

2004 – Jeff Poppell – The Bolles School, Florida

2003 – Denny Hill – Pioneer HS, Michigan

2002 – Tim Beerman – Ursuline Academy, Ohio

2001 – Ken Stopkotte – Carmel HS, Indiana

2000 – Sandy Martin – Providence HS, North Carolina

2014 NHSCA National Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year

Rusty Komori, Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii

When it comes to tennis in Hawaii, Rusty Komori has built a program that is second to none, including on the mainland.  During the 2013-14 season, Komori led the Punahou boys’ and girls’ tennis teams to their 12th straight state titles with the boys winning their 21^st straight overall under Komori.  The Punahou boys have won 24 straight state titles, which is a national record.  Overall, Punahou has won 46 boys’ state titles and 40 girls’ state titles.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Tony Splendore – Mt. Pleasant HS, Pennsylvania

2012 – Bill Kingston – Moorestown HS, New Jersey

2011 – Kelly Mulligan – Gulliver Prep, Florida

2010 – James Soloman – William Hall HS, Connecticut

2009 – Connie Jones – Greenwich HS, Connecticut

2008 – Preston Jackson, Jr. – Boys Latin School, Maryland

2007 – Tom Pullen – Pioneer HS, Michigan

2006 – Tim Mang – Corona del Mar HS, California

2005 – Don Barnes – Bishop O’Gorman HS, South Dakota

2004 – Tony Kamen – Naples HS, Florida

2003 – Bob Wood – University Liggett School, Michigan

2002 – Jerry Lacey – St. Mark’s School, Texas

2001 – Leo Scoda – Phoenixville HS, Pennsylvania

2000 – Gary Pilling – Walker HS, Alabama

2014 NHSCA National Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year

Fr. Frank Kissel, Marist High School, Atlanta, Georgia

Father Frank Kissel has led Marist to be one of the best girls’ tennis programs in his 25-plus years as the program’s head coach.  This past year, Father Kissel led the Lady War Eagle team to its fourth state title in five years.  From 1995-2006, Kissel led his teams to 12 straight state titles, which ranks as the third longest consecutive title streak in America.  This year state championship of Father Kissel’s 18^th.  His overall record stands at 508-69.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Vincent Romeo – The Miami Valley School, Ohio

2012 – Dick Villaflor – The Heritage Hall School, Oklahoma

2011 – Anita Murphy – Lewiston HS, Maine

2010 – Dave Steinbach – Brookfield Central HS, Wisconsin

2009 – Jeff Holman – Haddonfield Memorial, New Jersey

2008 – Ed Yarbrough – Jasper HS, Indiana

2007 – Steve Paulsen – Edina HS, Minnesota

2006 – Michael Kypriss – Dr. Michael Krop HS, Florida

2005 – Kristie Stevens – Catalina Foothills HS, Arizona

2004 – Emilio Gonzalez – Sunset HS, Florida

2003 – Anni Miller – Lakeridge HS, Oregon

2002 – Susan Stevens – Beverly Hills HS, California

2001 – Jo Cabana – Cardinal Gibbons HS, Florida

2000 – Steve Spivey – Needham Broughton HS, North Carolina

2014 NHSCA National Boys’ Track & Field Coach of the Year

Alex Armeteros, St. Thomas Aquinas, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Alex Armenteros has built both the boys’ and girls’ programs at St. Thomas Aquinas into national powers.  In 2013-14, both squads won their respective Florida Class 3A/4A state championships.  This year’s boys’ title was the fourth in the last five years for the Raiders.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Boys’ Track & Field Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Robert Steele – North Rowan HS, North Carolina

2012 – Woody Barnett – Pearl HS, Mississippi

2011 – Robbie Robinson – Mountain View HS, Arizona

2010 – Pete Boudreaux – Catholic HS, Louisiana

2009 – Dennis McNulty – Warren Central HS, Indiana

2008 – Warren Mitchell – Limon HS, Colorado

2007 – Joe Howell – Lisbon HS, North Dakota

2006 – Pat Galle – UMS Wright, Alabama

2005 – Don Carnahan – Russellville HS, Alabama

2004 – Chad Walker – Wheeler HS, Georgia

2003 – Rob Johnson – Clare HS, Michigan

2002 – Lindy Remigino – Hartford HS, Connecticut

2001 – Roger Mathiesen – Kearney HS, Nebraska

2000 – Chuck Koeppen – Carmel HS, Indiana

2014 NHSCA National Girls’ Track & Field Coach of the Year

Don Norford, Long Beach Poly, Long Beach, California

Don Norford, who has been the head track and field coach at Long Beach Poly since 1976, went into retirement as a champion.  Norford finished his coaching career leading the Poly Lady Jackrabbits to the school’s 14^th California state title overall, and sixth in the last seven years.  Norford, who also coached the boys, won five overall boys’ CIF championships, giving him 19 overall California state championships.  Norford has also been an assistant coach of the powerful Long Beach Poly football team where he coached 45 former and current NFL players.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Girls’ Track & Field Coach of the Year Award

2013 – June Villers – DeSoto HS, Texas

2012 – David Turnbull – Summit HS, Oregon

2011 – Susan Curnias – William H. Hall HS, Connecticut

2010 – Jim Tate – St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Alabama

2009 – Bill Stamper – Oak Ridge HS, Florida

2008 – Bryan Westfield – Pioneer HS, Michigan

2007 – James Holdren – Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, Virginia

2006 – Ed Bowie – Central HS, Maryland

2005 – Dan Kulper – Valley Christian HS, Arizona

2004 – Leon McKenzie – Benson Polytechnic HS, Oregon

2003 – Bryan Westfield – Pioneer HS, Michigan

2002 – Ted Knudson – Northrop HS, Indiana

2001 – Neal Morris – T.W. Andrews HS, North Carolina

2000 – Larry Colbert – Eleanor Roosevelt HS, Maryland

2014 NHSCA National Volleyball Coach of the Year

Rick Lorenz, Portland Central Catholic High, Portland, Oregon

Rick Lorenz is a Oregon Hall of Fame coach who has spent 39-years as a high school volleyball head coach, the last 27 as the leader of the Portland Central Catholic girls’ team.  During that time, Lorenz has won over 1,100 matches.  This past season, PCC finished runner-up in Oregon’s 6A classification. Portland Central Catholic under Lorenz won three straight state titles from 2009 to 2011.  Overall, Lorenz has won five state titles at PCC, plus another five at cross-town rival St. Mary’s Academy.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Volleyball Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Jack Magelssen – Denton Kellogg School, Michigan

2012 – Tom Turco – Barnstable HS, Massachusetts

2011 – Fred Rakers  - Mater Dei HS, Illinois

2010 – Laurie LaRusso – Darien HS, Connecticut

2009 -  Jan Stanley – West Henderson HS , North Carolina

2008 – Peg Kopec – St. Francis HS, Illinois

2007 – Steve Shondell - Burris Laboratory, Indiana

2006 – Louise Crocco – Cardinal Gibbons HS, Florida

2005 – Brenda LeBlanc – St. Joseph’s Academy, Louisiana

2004 – Lee Grisham – Wimberley HS, Texas

2003 – Arnie Meyer – Ursuline Academy, Ohio

2002 – Jan Barker – Amarillo HS, Texas

2001 – John Knuth – Marysville HS, Michigan

2000 – Larry Trupe – Torrey Pines, California

2014 NHSCA National Wrestling Coach of the Year

Dave Dean, Lowell High School, Lowell, Michigan

In nine years, Dave Dean built Lowell into a state and national wrestling power that produced numerous state champs and student-athletes that have been awarded Division I scholarships.  Dean, who resigned after the 2013-14 season to become the head of the Olympic Development Program at Cornell University, led the Red Arrows to the Michigan state team championship this past season and a #16 national ranking.  The team title was Lowell’s second, with the first coming in 2009.  Lowell finished runner-up in 2007, 2012 and 2013.  Coach Dean produced 12 individual state champs and 46 state placewinners.  In addition to excellence on the mat, Dean’s teams were named academic all-state every year since 2007.

Past winners of the NHSCA National Wrestling Coach of the Year Award

2013 – Steve Tirapelle – Clovis HS (California)

2012 – Pat Simpson – Father Ryan (Tennessee)
2011 – Cliff Ramos – Collins Hill (Georgia)

2010 – Barry Chooljian – Timberlane (New Hampshire)

2009 – Jeff Sweigard – Central Dauphin (Pennsylvania)

2008 – Bill Jacoutot – Spencerport (New York)

2007 – Jerry Winterton – Cary (North Carolina)

2006 – Mike Polz – Carl Sandburg (Illinois)

2005 – Roy Hall – Davison (Michigan)

2004 – Terry Daubert – Northampton (Pennsylvania)

2003 – Jeff Jordan – St. Paris Graham (Ohio)

2002 – David East – Bakersfield (California); Jim Jackson – Apple Valley (Minnesota)

2001 – Dave Crowell – Wilson Borough (Pennsylvania); Jeff Jordan – Clarksville (Tennessee)

2000 – Russ Cozart – Brandon (Florida); Scott Legacy – Mount Anthony Union (Vermont); Herb Stinson – Aztec (New Mexico)

1999 – Lewie Benitz – Lincoln (Wisconsin); Keith Healy – Providence Catholic (Illinois); Tim Marzuola – Highlands Park (Texas); Dick Rhoades – Bald Eagle Area (Pennsylvania)

1998 – Jim Poston – Montgomery Bell Academy (Tennessee)