National Coach of the Year Regional Finalists

Harold Shepherd (VInton, Iowa), President of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA), just announced the finalists for the NHSACA National Coach of the Year Award. Seventeen of eighteen nominated Iowans have made the final cut of eight for National Coach of the Year. This is a huge honor for the state of Iowa and all the coaches associations that participated. This is the most Iowa coaches that have ever made the final cut. This award has been given continuously since 1965, and is the oldest national high school coaching award in the United States.

The NHSACA Convention is in Sioux Falls, SD, on June 21-23. The awards banquet will be June 23. Each Iowan will receive a plaque and recognition in front of a large crowd. The one coach in each sport that will be named the 2010 National Coach of the Year will be announced at the end of the awards banquet.

Here is the list of Iowa Coaches in the final cut for National Coach of the Year in their respective sport:
SPORT NAME SCHOOL & EMAIL

Athletic Director Tom Lipovac Perry

Girls Track Mike Parker Iowa City West

Boys Track Jerry Becker Eagle Grove

Girls Cross Country Marty Thomae Benton

Boys Cross Country Jim Hetrick Central Clinton

Tennis Cindy Rasche Clinton

Swimming Dan Duclos Dubuque Senior

B-BKB Dwight Gingerich Iowa Mennonite School, Kalona

Football Ken Winkler West Marshall

G BKB Stan Rupe Ottumwa

Softball Mike Vint Marshalltown

Wrestling Bob Yelik Belle Plaine

Volleyball Shirley Ryan Mt. Vernon

G Soccer Randy Salyers Council Bluffs St. Albert

B Soccer Ben McRae Spencer High School

Baseball Steve Westphal Lenox

G Assistant Coach Linda Snygg North Polk