National Coaches of the Year Measure Success in Multiple Ways

Last month, the NFHS recognized 24 individuals as National Coaches of the Year. As one might expect, the accomplishments of these high school coaches are extraordinary, as noted in the press release that was distributed earlier.  

Combined, the recipients of this national honor have led their teams to 108 team championships in the various sports, along with countless runner-up finishes and trips to the state association playoffs. They have been rewarded with numerous “Coach of the Year’ awards within their states and have led hundreds of athletes to individual titles.

The success they’ve enjoyed on the fields and courts is remarkable, but comments about their roles as education-based coaches are even more telling as to why they were selected.

Jay Anderson has built a dominant boys soccer program at Missoula Hellgate High School in Montana with eight state titles. In the past 15 years, his teams have lost only 23 games, but Anderson views success through a different lens.

“Success in my program isn't measured by stats, but by the athlete's character and the positive impact they have as students, teammates and citizens,” Anderson said. “Ultimately, my goal is to help these young adults become good human beings on and off the field, equipping them with the life skills necessary for success long after their high school playing days are over.”

Beyond the daily coaching duties and helping students achieve athletic success, many education-based coaches involve team members in community projects to broaden their perspectives.

Dan Bledsoe, the National Boys Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year from Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Virginia, has led his teams to nine Virginia High School League state titles in just 16 years. Away from the pool, however, giving back is at the core of his program.       

“Athletes volunteer with Special Olympics, community events and park projects, learning the importance of service, sacrifice and contributing to the greater good,” Bledsoe said. “By connecting these experiences to broader life contexts, we equip athletes to navigate the demands of adulthood with confidence, integrity and resilience.”

Helping others is also at the heart of Laurie Updike-Kaup’s philosophy. Updike-Kaup, who has led Marcellus High School to four New York State Public High School Athletic Association state girls soccer championships, has traveled multiple times with her teams to hurricane-ravaged areas to help rebuild homes, including six visits to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Jamey Spartz, girls volleyball coach at Sandra Day O’Connor High School, knows all about victories. Remarkably, in the past 10 years, her teams are 133-10 and have won four consecutive Arizona Interscholastic Association state championships and 59 consecutive matches dating to 2021. 

However, while those wins are nice, Spartz’s goal is to create a positive and supportive environment where players take ownership of their growth, strive for excellence on the court and in the classroom, and gain confidence through every challenge. 

“I am passionate about guiding young athletes to recognize their potential and develop essential life skills such as determination, discipline, passion, work ethic, teamwork, leadership and resilience,” Spartz said.

These are but a few of the individuals selected for national honors in 2024-25 – all of whom have positively impacted student-athletes for many years.

It is a highlight of the year when the NFHS recognizes individuals who have devoted their lives to coaching high school sports. Many of us can look back fondly and remember those men and women who were a key part of our high school years. Not only did they help us in our particular sports, more importantly they helped us navigate that important stretch of our lives.

We salute this year’s award recipients – and all high school coaches – for their commitment to our nation’s youth.

Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff is in her eighth year as chief executive officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is the first female to head the national leadership organization for high school athletics and performing arts activities and the sixth full-time executive director of the NFHS. She previously was executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference for seven years.