Impact
Records
Mike Palazzo
Lake Highland Prep
Impact Statement
“Wrestling at the highest level requires a real, true commitment.” -Mike Palazzo
Biography
Palazzo has brought Lake Highland Prep to the top of the rankings since he took over the program in 2009.
Within the first three year, LHP won a state title in 2012 and continued to do so in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
LHP was ranked fourth in the nation for the majority of the 2016-2017 season. Lake Highland became just the third school in state history to win five state titles in six years, joining Brandon and South Dade.
This year, LHP set a new team record with points at the Florida State tournament with 298.5 points and a total of eight individual champions. They have wins over top ranked Bethlehem Catholic, Malvern Prep before dropping to #1 Blair Academy.
Since being honored, Palazzo has continue to lead LHP to state and national dominance. In 2018, the Highlanders, ranked 4th in the nation, won the inaugural Dual State Championships with a 72-0 victory over Cardinal Gibbons. The claimed both the Dual and Individual team title in 2019 and 2020.
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Personal Honors
Corona del Sol High School
“High expectations lead to high results.” -Ben Maxfield
“High expectations lead to high results.” -Ben Maxfield
Ben Maxfield
Corona del Sol High School
Impact Statement
“High expectations lead to high results.” -Ben Maxfield
Biography
Ben Maxfield, who’s been the head coach at Corona del Sol for more than a decade, led the school to Arizona’s Class 6A title for the 2016-17 school year, the school’s first since 1991.
The team finished 39-5 last season with USA TODAY ranking the school No. 5 in its Super 25 national rankings. During Maxfield’s reign as head coach, Corona del Sol has won one state title with two runner-up finishes, along with a 3rd place and 5th place finish.
Coach Maxfield is the first coach from Arizona to win the NHSCA National Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Since being honored, Maxfield has continued his winning ways at Corona del Sol. As he stresses, process over product. Most recently, the Lady Aztecs claimed another league title in November of 2021 and a semifinal berth.
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Community Service
Ben has been very active in the community.
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Homewood High School
“As a coach, you’re trying to maximize the potential of what you have.” -Tom Esslinger
“As a coach, you’re trying to maximize the potential of what you have.” -Tom Esslinger
Tom Esslinger
Homewood High School
Impact Statement
“As a coach, you’re trying to maximize the potential of what you have.” -Tom Esslinger
Biography
Esslinger led the Homewood girls to their fourth straight state championship in May. Led by sprinter Jasmine Griffin, who won three individual gold medals along with a relay gold, Homewood took home seven gold medals in individual events, plus one in the 4X400 relay. The state title was the tenth overall for Esslinger, who is head coach of the boys’ team as well.
Since taking-over in 2005, Homewood girls and boys have captured ten state titles with nine runner-up finishes. The track and field title gave the Homewood girls a three-peat this year under Esslinger. The Homewood girls also won the cross country and indoor track state titles during the 2016-17 school year.
Coach Esslinger is the second coach from Alabama to win the NHSCA National Girls’ Track and Field Coach of the Year award. Jim Tate of St. Paul’s Episcopal School won it in 2010.
Esslinger remained the coach at Homewood until he was hired as the head coach at Hewitt-Trussville High School in the spring of 2020. Over his tenure at Homewood, he coached 31 State Championships in Cross Country and Track and Field.
Esslinger has continued his winning ways at Hewitt-Trussville. In his first season, both the boys and girls won 7A Indoor State Championships. In the Outdoor State Championships, the boys and girls finished in second place.
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The Woodlands High School
“When you have athletes with a lot of talent and a high work ethic great things can happen.” -Juris Green
“When you have athletes with a lot of talent and a high work ethic great things can happen.” -Juris Green
Juris Green
The Woodlands High School
Impact Statement
“When you have athletes with a lot of talent and a high work ethic great things can happen.” -Juris Green
Biography
Juris Green led the school to its second overall state championship in the spring, the first for the school since 1999. Green’s father was the head coach of the first state championship team.
This year’s team won the title with 60 points, which was four more than second place George Ranch. This year’s championship was won on the strength of nine athletes who qualified for the UIL state championships. Green’s athletes won four gold medals and one silver, plus the 4X200 relay team also captured gold. Green is also the head coach of the school’s cross-country program that won the state’s 6A state title in the fall.
It’s the first time that the same school has won cross country and track and field titles in the same year. Coach Green is the first coach from Texas to win the NHSCA National Boys’ Track and Field Coach of the Year Award.
Since being honored, Green continues to lead The Woodlands’ Track & Field and Cross Country teams. They have claimed six state championships in the past four and a half years as of the spring of 2020.
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Professional Achievements
Ellsworth High School
“It’s a lifetime sport.” -Brian Higgins
“It’s a lifetime sport.” -Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins
Ellsworth High School
Impact Statement
“It’s a lifetime sport.” -Brian Higgins
Biography
Brian Higgins has the distinction of being Maine’s winningest coach in both tennis and soccer. Higgins has won over 600 total tennis matches with over 300 victories for each the boys’ and girls’ programs. His record as a soccer coach was 566-103-45 in 42 years, before retiring in 2016.
The Ellsworth girls’ program has had five state runner-up finishes, while the boys’ program captured a state title in 1996 with five runner-up finishes.
Higgins is the second coach from Maine to win the NHSCA National Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year. Anita Murphy of Lewiston High School won the award in 2011.
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Professional Achievements
Wellesley High School
“In the end, I know it’s kind of cliché, but when you’re thinking too much about finishing undefeated, you lose sight of the overall goal.” -Mike Sabin
“In the end, I know it’s kind of cliché, but when you’re thinking too much about finishing undefeated, you lose sight of the overall goal.” -Mike Sabin
Mike Sabin
Wellesley High School
Impact Statement
“In the end, I know it’s kind of cliché, but when you’re thinking too much about finishing undefeated, you lose sight of the overall goal.” -Mike Sabin
Biography
In May, Mike Sabin won his 500th match as the head coach of the Wellesley tennis program. This victory came as a result of a 4-1 win over arch-rival Needham.
This past season, Wellesley finished 16-2, winning Massachusetts’ South Section championship and advanced to the state Division 1 semifinals. In 28 years as the school’s head coach, he’s only had one losing season. His 2010 team was a perfect 26-0, winning the school’s first state championship. Sabin also led Wellesley to a Division 2 state title in 2005.
Coach Sabin is the first coach from Massachusetts to win the NHSCA National Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year.
Sabin continues to lead Wellesley’s program to success.
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Dallastown High School
“I want my legacy to be what I built in children in terms of their character.” -Rich Howley
“I want my legacy to be what I built in children in terms of their character.” -Rich Howley
Rich Howley
Dallastown High School
Impact Statement
“I want my legacy to be what I built in children in terms of their character.” -Rich Howley
Biography
Rich Howley, who retired at the end of the 2016-17 season, coached the boys and girls swimming programs for three decades at Dallastown.
Under his reign, the Wildcats won 50 York-Adams League titles — 25 by the boys and 25 by the girls — and a girls’ District 3 championship. He also coached six swimmers to individual state gold medals with 40 district champions and more than 100 All-Americans.
“I want my legacy to be what I built in children in terms of their character,” said Howley after his retirement. “That’s what I’ve always wanted. From myself and my staff.” Howley is the first coach from Pennsylvania to win the NHSCA National Boys’ Swimming Coach of the Year Award.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Woodinville High School
Weir led her alma mater to state championships after a successful stint on the diamond herself.
Weir led her alma mater to state championships after a successful stint on the diamond herself.
Dani Weir
Woodinville High School
Impact Statement
Weir led her alma mater to state championships after a successful stint on the diamond herself.
Biography
Dani Weir led Woodinville to Washington 4A state championship this past season.
Weir, who won a state championship as a player at Woodinville in 2005 before playing for Boston College, has led the Falcons to four straight league titles, plus finished runner-up in the state in 2016. Woodinville, which finished 26-0 this season, finished ranked No. 4 in the USA TODAY High School Sports Super 25 softball rankings.
Last year, Weir was named the Seattle Times Softball Coach of the Year. Weir is the first coach from Washington to be named the NHSCA’s National Softball Coach of the Year.
Weir is still leading Woodinville to success on and off the field.
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Personal Honors
Glastonbury High School
Finocchiaro has led Glastonbury to five state titles over the last ten seasons.
Finocchiaro has led Glastonbury to five state titles over the last ten seasons.
Joe Finocchiaro
Glastonbury High School
Impact Statement
Finocchiaro has led Glastonbury to five state titles over the last ten seasons.
Biography
This past season, Joe Finocchiaro led Glastonbury to its third straight Connecticut Class LL state championship. During that stretch, Glastonbury has won 60 straight matches, which is a Connecticut state record.
Finocchiaro, who is a Glastonbury alum, took-over the girls’ soccer program 2009 and has now led his alma mater to four state championship appearances with three titles. This past season, Glastonbury finished No. 2 in the USA TODAY Girls Super 25 fall soccer rankings.
Coach Finocchiaro is the first coach from Connecticut to win the NHSCA National Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year.
Since being honored, Finocchiaro and his girls have won another two consecutive state titles. He holds over 200 career victories.
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Personal Honors
Boulder High School
“At Boulder High, one of the things we’ve prided ourselves on is playing a style of soccer that might be above the expectations of a normal high school program.” -Hardy Kalisher
“At Boulder High, one of the things we’ve prided ourselves on is playing a style of soccer that might be above the expectations of a normal high school program.” -Hardy Kalisher
Hardy Kalisher
Boulder High School
Impact Statement
“At Boulder High, one of the things we’ve prided ourselves on is playing a style of soccer that might be above the expectations of a normal high school program.” -Hardy Kalisher
Biography
Kalisher, who has led the school to the playoffs in all of the years that he’s been the team’s head coach, won the program’s second state title in 2016 with a perfect 20-0 record.
Boulder beat Broomfield for the 5A championship on the 14th round of penalty kicks. USA TODAY ranked Boulder No. 2 in the nation in its Super 25 fall rankings.
Under Kalisher, Boulder High won the first state title in the program’s history in 2012. In addition, the Panthers finished runner-up in 2014 and were state semi-finalists in 2010 and 2013.
In 2012, Kalisher was named the Colorado High School Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year. During the same year, Kalisher won the prestigious National Double-Coach of the Year Award.
Coach Kalisher is the first coach from Colorado to win the NHSCA National Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year.
Kalisher continues to lead the team to success at Boulder. In September of 2021, Kalisher won his 200th career victory. He and the team lost in the second round in a nail biter against the eventual state runner ups, Fossil Ridge.
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Professional Achievements
Bellarmine Prep
Bender led Bellarmine to nine consecutive state titles before retiring after the 2018 season.
Bender led Bellarmine to nine consecutive state titles before retiring after the 2018 season.
Mark Bender
Bellarmine Prep
Impact Statement
Bender led Bellarmine to nine consecutive state titles before retiring after the 2018 season.
Biography
This past season, Mark Bender led Bellarmine Prep to its eighth straight Washington state championship, which is a state record for consecutive state titles.
In May, Bellarmine won the state title easily with 163.75 points to second place Camas’ 67.75 points. Bellarmine was led by freshman Julia Bordeaux, who finished tied for third at the state tournament. Bender also led the Lions to a 2003 state title before stepping away from the program for four years.
Bender is the first coach from Washington to win the NHSCA National Girls’ Golf Coach of the Year.
Bender led Bellarmine to another state title in 2018 before retiring after the season.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Panorama High School
Hal Rossow closed-out a 38-year coaching career at Panorama High School in the spring with the school’s fourth straight state meet appearance.
Hal Rossow closed-out a 38-year coaching career at Panorama High School in the spring with the school’s fourth straight state meet appearance.
Hal Rossow
Panorama High School
Impact Statement
Hal Rossow closed-out a 38-year coaching career at Panorama High School in the spring with the school’s fourth straight state meet appearance.
Biography
Hal Rossow closed-out a 38-year coaching career at Panorama High School in the spring with the school’s fourth straight state meet appearance. Rossow led Panorama to 2A state championships in 2015 and 2016.
The Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association named Coach Rossow its Class 2A Coach of the Year at the end of each of those championship seasons. Over the past four seasons, Panorama’s team amassed an incredible 280 wins with just 19 losses.
This past season, Rossow’s team finished with a 70-7 record with a third place finish at the state tournament with two all-state selections.
Coach Rossow is the third coach from Iowa to win the NHSCA National Boys’ Golf Coach of the Year. Dave Messerli of Marion won the award in 2015 and Richard Gaard of Decorah won it in 2008.
In 2020, Rossow was inducted into the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Mater Dei High School
Rollinson has led Mater Dei to seven CIF titles and four National Championships over his 30 year career.
Rollinson has led Mater Dei to seven CIF titles and four National Championships over his 30 year career.
Bruce Rollinson
Mater Dei High School
Impact Statement
Rollinson has led Mater Dei to seven CIF titles and four National Championships over his 30 year career.
Biography
Bruce Rollinson, who has been Mater Dei’s head coach since 1989, owns a record of 272-33-2. Last season Rollinson led his school to a 13-1 record and was ranked No. 14 in the national in the High School Football America/NHSCA National High School Football Rankings.
Since taking-over the reigns of the football program at his alma mater, Rollinson has directed the Monarchs to 11 CIF-Southern Section championship games, winning five titles. In the mid-90’s, two of Rollinson’s teams were named national champions by USA TODAY.
Among the top players he has coached are quarterbacks Matt Barkley and Matt Leinart, both of whom went to USC. Rollinson’s current quarterback, sophomore J.T. Daniels, has already thrown 100 touchdowns in his career, which gives him the most in Orange County history with two more years to go.
Rollinson is the second California high school football coach to receive the honor. De La Salle’s Bob Ladouceur, who is one of three two-time winners of the its Coach of the Year award, won the National Football Coach of the Year award in 2001 and 2004.
Since being honored, Rollinson has continued to lead Mater Dei. His team won another state and national title in 2018. He will return in 2022 for his 33rd season. In 32 seaons, he’s complied a record of 317-86-2.
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Professional Achievements
The Westminster School
Eubanks has led Westminster the 25 State Titles since taking over in 1991.
Eubanks has led Westminster the 25 State Titles since taking over in 1991.
Amy Eubanks
The Westminster School
Impact Statement
Eubanks has led Westminster the 25 State Titles since taking over in 1991.
Biography
Amy Eubanks has been the school’s head coach since 1991. The Westminster Schools won the 2016 Georgia AAA state championship, which was the 21st state championship under Eubanks’ guidance.
In 2014, she was named Georgia State Coach of the Year by the NFHS. She was the GACA State Coach of the Year from 1992 through 2004. In 1997, Eubanks was the co-high school Coach of the Year for all sports given by the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
Eubanks is the first coach from Georgia to win the NHSCA Girls’ Cross Country Coach of the Year award.
Since being honored, Eubanks has continued her winning ways. Westminster has won ever 3A State Title sine being honored.
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Records
Professional Achievements
American Fork High School
Mostert has coached 38 Cross Country All-State runners and 17 individual state champions in the sport.
Mostert has coached 38 Cross Country All-State runners and 17 individual state champions in the sport.
Timo Mostert
American Fork High School
Impact Statement
Mostert has coached 38 Cross Country All-State runners and 17 individual state champions in the sport.
Biography
Timo Mostert began coaching the American Fork boys’ cross country team in 1998. His team has competed in every state championship since he took over the program, winning seven team championships. In 2016, Mostert led American Fork to its seventh team championship in the last eight years. In December, Mostert and his boys finished second at the Nike Cross Nationals. It was the second time in five years that American Fork finished runner-up at the national championships. Casey Clinger was the Individual Nike Cross Nationals’ National Champion for the second-year in a row, plus he won the NHSCA Boys’ Cross County Athlete of the Year. He’s the first boy to win back-to-back Nike Cross County national titles in the 13-year history of the meet. Mostert has coached 38 cross country all-state runners and 17 individual state champions in the sport. Mostert is the first coach to win the NHSCA’s National Boys’ Cross Country Coach of the Year from Utah.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Riverdale High School
Coffman led Riverdale to three consecutive state titles, over 100 wins and five defeats over three years.
Coffman led Riverdale to three consecutive state titles, over 100 wins and five defeats over three years.
Randy Coffman
Riverdale High School
Impact Statement
Coffman led Riverdale to three consecutive state titles, over 100 wins and five defeats over three years.
Biography
Randy Coffman led Riverdale to its second straight Tennessee Class AAA championship during the 2016-17 school year. Riverdale was named national champs by USA TODAY and MaxPreps after finishing with a 34-0 record.
Coffman, who was also named the 2017 Naismith High School Girls’ Coach of the Year, has led his team to 43 straight wins since the 2015-16 season. Coffman was named Riverdale’s head coach prior to the 2015-16 season after coaching at Dyersburg High School for years. His record at Riverdale is 66-4. His lifetime coaching record is 433-163.
Coffman is the second Tennessee coach to be named the NHSCA National Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. Blackman’s Chad Hibdon won the award in 2015.
After being honored, Coffman led Riverdale to it’s third consecutive state title in 2018 before stepping down to spend more time with him family. In his three year tenure, Coffman recorded a 102-5 record.
He later became the Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance and head Women’s Basketball Coach at Lakeway Christian Academy. Over course of two years, his teams have a winning record. Most recently, he led the team to the 2020 NACA Division IV National Championship.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Whitney Young Magnet High School
Slaughter’s lifetime record is 262-96 with 33 young men gaining college scholarships under his coaching.
Slaughter’s lifetime record is 262-96 with 33 young men gaining college scholarships under his coaching.
Tyrone Slaughter
Whitney Young Magnet High School
Impact Statement
Slaughter’s lifetime record is 262-96 with 33 young men gaining college scholarships under his coaching.
Biography
This past season, Tyrone Slaughter led Whitney Young to the Illinois Class 4A state championship, finishing No. 25 in the nation in the USA TODAY Super 25. It was the third time the Dolphins had won a state title under Slaughter, who said after the game, “Everyone on this roster is a star. Everybody on this roster does something that makes our team good.” Coach Slaughter is known for playing one of the toughest schedules in the country year-in and year-out. This year, aside from its rugged Chicago Public League schedule, Whitney Young played teams from six different states. Slaughter’s lifetime record is 262-96 with 33 young men gaining college scholarships under his coaching. Slaughter is the second coach from Illinois to win the Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year award. Bob Williams of Schaumburg High School won the award in 2001.
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Shawnee High School
“I’ve lived in Shawnee my entire adult life, so you know I bleed navy and white, this is my home and where I plan to retire.” -Todd Boyer
“I’ve lived in Shawnee my entire adult life, so you know I bleed navy and white, this is my home and where I plan to retire.” -Todd Boyer
Todd Boyer
Shawnee High School
Impact Statement
“I’ve lived in Shawnee my entire adult life, so you know I bleed navy and white, this is my home and where I plan to retire.” -Todd Boyer
Biography
This past season, Todd Boyer led Shawnee to its third straight Oklahoma Class 5A state title. Shawnee finished a perfect 40-0 and No. 1 in the USA TODAY Super 25 national rankings. Shawnee will take a 52-game win streak into the 2018 season.
Boyer, who has been at the school 26 years as a coach, the last 11 as Shawnee’s head coach, was the 2014-15 Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association’s Oklahoma Baseball Coach of the Year.
With the best season to date under his belt, Boyer is stepping away from his coaching duties after 11 season. He is the new athletic director at Shawnee.
He was also named the National Federation of State High Schools Association’s Southwest Sectional Coach of the Year for 2015. Boyer is the first coach from Oklahoma to win the NHSCA National Baseball Coach of the Year Award.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Emmaus High School
“We want these kids to be successful. Even though we want to win a state championship, of course, we look at it as one game at a time.” -Sue Butz-Stavin
“We want these kids to be successful. Even though we want to win a state championship, of course, we look at it as one game at a time.” -Sue Butz-Stavin
Sue Butz-Stavin
Emmaus High School
Impact Statement
“We want these kids to be successful. Even though we want to win a state championship, of course, we look at it as one game at a time.” -Sue Butz-Stavin
Biography
The year 2005 was memorable in the 31-year coaching career of Butz-Stavin, who stands No. 2 on the sport’s all-time victory list. Her Emmaus team finished with a perfect 28-0 record and won its state-best eighth state championship; Butz-Stavin recorded her 600th career victory; three of her players earned high school All-America honors; and she was named a finalist for the United States Olympic Committee’s Developmental Coach of the Year award.
Her career record stands at 638-69-33. This year’s team shut-out its first 19 opponents, finished 24-2 and advanced to the state semifinals. A member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame, Butz-Stavin’s FireStyx club team won the gold medal at the National Hockey Festival, winning pool championships in the event five of the last six years.
Since being honored in 2007, Butz-Stavin and the Green Hornets continue to rank as one of the best in Pennsylvania’s and across the nation. Emmaus won the AAA PA State Championship in 2010, 2015 and 2016. In addition, they finished second in 2013.
In 2015 Butz-Stavin notched her 840th win surpassing the national record for most wins. In 2017 she won her 900th game with a sudden victory win over their rival Parkland.
Butz-Stavin was also honored as the 2017 Coach of the Year after leading her team to its second straight Pennsylvania Class 3A state title.
In the past five years Emmaus boasts a record is 133-5. That puts her career record at 971-82-5. She’ll be looking for win 1,000 in 2021.
On Tuesday, October 5th, Butz-Stavin claimed that 100th win with a 12-0 shutout of East Stroudsburg North.
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