Impact
Records
Eric Richardson
Chandler High School
Impact Statement
Richardson has led his team to 14 of the last 15 State Titles.
Biography
Last month, Richardson led Chandler to its 14th state title in the last 15 years. Richardson, who is also a football coach at Chandler, just finished his 24th year as the head coach of the girls’ Track & Field program.
Richardson has coached multiple athletes who made USA teams and won Gatorade Arizona Athletes of the Year.
Hoover High School
Hinds boasts more than 40 State Championships in his illustrious career.
Hinds boasts more than 40 State Championships in his illustrious career.
Devon Hind
Hoover High School
Impact Statement
Hinds boasts more than 40 State Championships in his illustrious career.
Biography
After leading Hoover to a third straight 7A state championship last month, Hind announced he was retiring. Hind led the boys’ and girls’ programs since 2003. During his time Hind won 42 state championships between Track & Field and cross country.
Twice, Hind has been selected as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross County Coaches Association’s National Boys’ Coach of the Year. He was also selected as the organization’s girls’ Coach of the Year in 2013.
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Records
Westlake High School
Nokes has made an impact since taking over in 2002, while coaching 7 State Championship teams.
Nokes has made an impact since taking over in 2002, while coaching 7 State Championship teams.
Callan Nokes
Westlake High School
Impact Statement
Nokes has made an impact since taking over in 2002, while coaching 7 State Championship teams.
Biography
Since taking-over the Westlake program in 2002, Nokes has led the school to seven state
championships. This past season, Westlake won its fourth straight Class 6A championship, led by Jacob Sosa, who finished tied for second in the individual championship after shooting a 139 over the two-day event. Nokes has coached three overall individual state champs.
Other honors for Coach Nokes include being named Texas State Coach of the Year in 2009. That same year he was named the NFHS Southwest United States Regional Coach of the Year.
In 2013, Nokes was honored by the Texas High School Coaches Association with the highest milestone of victories award by compiling 500 victory points in 11 seasons, making him the fastest to achieve that milestone in Texas 6A golf history.
Nokes is the first coach from Texas to receive this honor.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Milton High School
“You always try to welcome the culture that has been built before you and add on to it. I just want to add on to the Milton legacy and continue to work and help kids.” -Allen Whitehart
“You always try to welcome the culture that has been built before you and add on to it. I just want to add on to the Milton legacy and continue to work and help kids.” -Allen Whitehart
Allen Whitehart
Milton High School
Impact Statement
“You always try to welcome the culture that has been built before you and add on to it. I just want to add on to the Milton legacy and continue to work and help kids.” -Allen Whitehart
Biography
This past season, Whitehart led Milton to Georgia’s 7A state championship with a 28-2 record. The Eagles won their final 26 games in-state and were invited to the prestigious GEICO High School Nationals Tournament in Florida where they lost to powerful IMG Academy of Florida 73-68 in the tournament’s opening round. Milton finished the season ranked No. 6 in America.
One of the highlights of the 2020-21 season for Coach Whitehart was his 300th career victory. He was chosen as the Class 7A Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Bobby Cremins Georgia Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club.
After 14 seasons as a head basketball coach, Whitehart owns as 323-106 record, which includes six Final Four appearances and four trips to the state finals. This year’s state championship was Coach Whitehart’s first.
Whitehart is the third Georgia coach to be named the NHSCA National Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year. Sharman White of Miller Grove High School won the award for the 2015-16 school year. Wheeler High’s Dan Lipscomb won it for the 2011-12 sports season.
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Records
Mount Notre Dame High School
Impact Statement Placeholder
Impact Statement Placeholder
Dr. Scott Rogers
Mount Notre Dame High School
Impact Statement
Impact Statement Placeholder
Biography
This past season, Rogers led Mount Notre Dame to Ohio’s second straight Division I championship with a 57-55 double overtime victory over Newark. Dr. Rogers, who away from the game is a dentist, has now led MND to five of its eight overall state championships. His career coaching record is 383-61.
Mount Notre Dame finished this season ranked No. 2 in the MaxPreps’ Top 25 girls’ high school football rankings. This year’s 28-0 record now means that MND has won 72 straight games. The Ohio state record is 108 consecutive wins.
Rogers is the third Ohio coach to be named the NHSCA National Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. David Scholabach of Hiland won the award for the 2011-12 school year. Gerald Whaley of William Mason High School won the first-ever award during the 1999-2000 sports season.
Rogers is the third Ohio coach to be named the NHSCA National Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. David Scholabach of Hiland won the award for the 2011-12 school year. Gerald Whaley of William Mason High School won the first-ever award during the 1999-2000 sports season.
Yorktown High School
“I think my goal each year is to make the best team I can that is about each other first, because really at the end of the day, it’s about the impact.” -Stephanie Bloom
“I think my goal each year is to make the best team I can that is about each other first, because really at the end of the day, it’s about the impact.” -Stephanie Bloom
Stephanie Bloom
Yorktown High School
Impact Statement
“I think my goal each year is to make the best team I can that is about each other first, because really at the end of the day, it’s about the impact.” -Stephanie Bloom
Biography
Since taking-over at her alma mater in 2008, Bloom has established the Yorktown program as one of the best in the Hoosier State and also in the nation. This past season, Yorktown won its second state title in the last three years, giving Bloom four overall state titles as the school’s head coach. She’s also won a state volleyball title when she was a player at the school.
The 2018 and 2020 teams both finished undefeated. This year’s squad (28-0 record) captured the state’s Class 4A title and was ranked No. 2 in the nation by MaxPreps.com. After the 2018 title, VolleyballMag.com named Bloom its Coach of the Year.
Bloom is the third coach from Indiana to be named the NHSCA National Volleyball Coach of the Year. Indianapolis Cathedral’s Jean Kesterson won the award for the 2015-16 school year. Steve Shondell of Burris Laboratory was honored during the 2006-07 sports season.
Since being honored, Bloom and her team made it to the Regional semi-finals in November of 2021.
Records
Personal Honors
Tourtellotte Memorial High School
“I love to see the kids when it clicks in their mind what I’m trying to do. The only reason I’ve had the success that I’ve had is because the kids have bought into my style of play.” – Deb Spinelli
“I love to see the kids when it clicks in their mind what I’m trying to do. The only reason I’ve had the success that I’ve had is because the kids have bought into my style of play.” – Deb Spinelli
Deb Spinelli
Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Impact Statement
“I love to see the kids when it clicks in their mind what I’m trying to do. The only reason I’ve had the success that I’ve had is because the kids have bought into my style of play.” – Deb Spinelli
Biography
The National High School Coaches Association is proud to announce Deb Spinelli of Tourtellotte Memorial High School in Thompson, Connecticut as its National High School Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year.
In the fall, Coach Spinelli won her 300th match with a 6-0 shutout of Parish Hill. In addition to the results on the field, she is known as a coach that goes above-and-beyond for her student-athletes. In 1995, Spinelli used her coaching stipend to buy Adidas uniforms and warmups.
Spinelli’s 1993 team won Connecticut’s Class S state championship. Her ’99 team was named Class S co-champs. Tourtellotte Memorial has finished runner-up four times under Coach Spinelli.
In the fall of 1999, she took over the duties as the school’s Athletic Director. After 23 years, she still holds this position.
Spinelli is a multi-sport athlete in her own right. She played Basketball, Volleyball and Softball in high school. While at Southern Connecticut State University, she played varsity Basketball, Field hockey and track.
Spinelli is the second Connecticut coach to be named the NHSCA National Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year. Joe Finocchiaro of Glastonbury High won the honor for the 2016-2017 school year.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Dodge City High School
“I loved coaching the kids so much that I wanted to return to school to get my degree so I could coach high school soccer.” -Saul Hernandez
“I loved coaching the kids so much that I wanted to return to school to get my degree so I could coach high school soccer.” -Saul Hernandez
Saul Hernandez
Dodge City High School
Impact Statement
“I loved coaching the kids so much that I wanted to return to school to get my degree so I could coach high school soccer.” -Saul Hernandez
Biography
Last fall, Hernandez, who coaches the boys’ and girls’ soccer programs at Dodge City, led the boys’ team to its second state title in the last five years. The Red Demons were a perfect 20-0. Dodge City is the only program in Kansas boys’ soccer history to have two different undefeated state championship seasons.
Dodge City was ranked No. 5 in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches rankings. The Red Demons outscored their opponents 110-7 with sixteen shutouts.
Over the past five seasons, Hernandez has led the boys’ program to a 91-11 record.
“We are extremely pleased to honor Coach Hernandez,” said Eric Hess, Executive Director of the NHSCA. “He has established Dodge City as one of the top soccer programs in Kansas and the nation. He exhibits a strong dedication to supporting and developing his high school student-athletes in the classroom and outside of it.”
Hernandez is the second Kansas coach to be named the NHSCA National Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year. Craig Ewing of St. Thomas Aquinas won the honor for the 2008-2009 sports year.
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Articles
Records
St Mary's Preparatory High School
“When you have the group of players we had with the amount of experience the assistants have, it makes things a lot easier on me as a head coach,” Matt Petry
“When you have the group of players we had with the amount of experience the assistants have, it makes things a lot easier on me as a head coach,” Matt Petry
Matt Petry
St Mary's Preparatory High School
Impact Statement
“When you have the group of players we had with the amount of experience the assistants have, it makes things a lot easier on me as a head coach,” Matt Petry
Biography
After leading St. Mary’s Prep to Michigan’s Division 2 state championship in 2019, Petry’s program is won another title, going back-to-back, since the 2020 season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Living up to their number one ranking both in Michigan and nationally, St. Mary’s knocked off Lakeshore High School 9-0 in the finals.
Petry, who is the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Petry, is looking for his third state championship since taking over the program in 2011.
Petry currently has twelve players signed or committed to play Division I college baseball.
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Records
Lexington High School
“It was so much better as a coach than it was as an athlete. It was such a long journey and I felt like I used all of my previous experiences to get there. Life came full circle.” -Denise Benson, on winning a state championship
“It was so much better as a coach than it was as an athlete. It was such a long journey and I felt like I used all of my previous experiences to get there. Life came full circle.” -Denise Benson, on winning a state championship
Denise Benson
Lexington High School
Impact Statement
“It was so much better as a coach than it was as an athlete. It was such a long journey and I felt like I used all of my previous experiences to get there. Life came full circle.” -Denise Benson, on winning a state championship
Biography
This past season, Benson led the Lexington girls’ program to its fourth straight Ohio Division II state championship and fifth in school history. In 2015, Benson, who coaches both the girls’ and boys’ programs, led both teams to state titles. It was just the third time in Ohio cross country history that the same school won both titles.
In two decades at the helm of Lexington’s two programs, Benson, who was a distance runner at the University of Kentucky and a two-time New York state high school cross country champ, has built Lexington into one of the state’s premier cross country programs, winning multiple Ohio Cardinal Conference championships, along with district and regional titles.
In 2017, Brooks Sports named her the winner of the Brooks Running Inspiring Coach of the Year.
Benson is the first Ohio coach to be named the NHSCA National Girls’ Cross Country Coach of the Year.
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Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
American Heritage High School
Coach Surtain spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Coach Surtain spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Patrick Surtain, Sr.
American Heritage High School
Impact Statement
Coach Surtain spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Biography
This honor is jointly presented with our partner High School Football America.
This past season, Surtain led American Heritage to the Florida 5A state championship, the school’s third overall under the direction of the former National Football League cornerback, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs.
Surtain took-over the American Heritage program in 2016 after serving as the team’s defensive
coordinator for three seasons, during which time the Patriots won another state title.
In addition to being one of the top programs in the State of Florida, AH has become a regular in the national rankings. All five of his teams have finished the year ranked in the High School Football America (“HSFA”) national rankings. This past season, the Patriots were ranked No. 20 in the High School Football America 100. American Heritage’s highest ranking was in 2017 when it finished No. 6 in the nation in the HSFA rankings. The 2016 state championship team was
ranked No. 14 in America by High School Football America.
“Coach Surtain has done an outstanding job at American Heritage, while playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation,” said Jeff Fisher, head of the NHSCA Coach of the Year Nominating Committee and founder of High School Football America. “His success goes beyond the playing field. His ability to prepare his student-athletes for the next level makes him an excellent choice for this honor.”
Surtain is the fourth football coach from Florida to be honored by the NHSCA. Miami Central’s Roland Smith won the award for the 2014 season. George Smith of St. Thomas Aquinas was honored in 2010-11 school year and the late Charles “Corky” Rogers of The Bolles School was our first honoree during the 2004-2005 sports year.
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Records
Personal Honors
Delmar High School
“I’d say the only mentality is ‘Play every game like it might be your last one.'”-Holloman on encouraging her team
“I’d say the only mentality is ‘Play every game like it might be your last one.'”-Holloman on encouraging her team
Jodi Hollamon
Delmar High School
Impact Statement
“I’d say the only mentality is ‘Play every game like it might be your last one.'”-Holloman on encouraging her team
Biography
In December of 2020 Hollamon led Delmar to its fifth straight state championship in the school’s sixth straight title game appearance. Delmar won the Division II state title with a 4-1 win over Caravel, which was the Buccaneers’ 78th straight victory. For the year, Delmar outscored its opponents 93-2.
After the championship victory, Hollamon told Morning Star Publications, “Every year is different and this one is special because of everything we experienced this year. Never once did they complain (about COVID-19 rules). They continued to be the best they could be.”
Hollamon is the first Delaware high school field hockey coach to receive this honor. She was also a standout at the University of Delaware.
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