Mike Lashley, President 307-575-0129 • Lingle
Rick Stonehouse, President Elect 307-250-5499 • Cody
Walt Smith, Past President 307-534-6815 • Torrington
Tony Yerkovich, Executive Secretary 307-389-9087 • Rock Springs
Steve Mischke, Executive Director 307-388-0106 • Buffalo
Glenn Freeburg, Presidential Secretary 307-532-0376 • Guernsey
JANUARY 22, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM: Mike Lashley, President
WYOMING COACHES ASSOCIATION
WYOMING HIGH SCHOOL COACHES NAMED AS
NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
The National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) and the Wyoming Coaches Association (WCA) are pleased to announce that 12 Wyoming coaches have been chosen as finalists for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. NHSACA is the oldest coaches association in the nation and has been recognizing national coaches of the year since 1978.
The following Wyoming coaches have been selected as some of the best coaches in the United States in their respective sports:
Ballard Johnson Star Valley High School Assistant Boys’ COTY
Melissa Hoopman Douglas High School Assistant Girls’ COTY
Jim Shaffer Cheyenne South High School Boys’ Basketball
Deb Murray Niobrara County High School Girls’ Basketball
Ron Kline Campbell County High School Girls’ Cross Country
Jerry Carroll Evanston High School Golf
Dick Edgcomb Buffalo High School Soccer
Josh Bott Campbell County High School Swimming & Diving
Ray Bieber Powell High School Tennis
Bruce Mowry Cheyenne Central High School Boys’ Track & Field
Scott Smith Powell High School Girls’ Track & Field
Charlie Williams Moorcroft High School Wrestling
Each of these Wyoming coaches will join seven other regional finalists from across the nation, in nineteen recognized sports categories, to be honored during the National Coach of the Year Awards Banquet at the NHSACA’s national convention in East Peoria, IL on the evening of June 21, 2017. The highlight of the banquet will be the naming of the NHSACA National Coach of the Year in each of the nineteen classifications.
All Wyoming coaches were nominated for this national honor by the Wyoming Coaches Association. The selection is based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, championship years, and winning percentage. The nominees and finalists are evaluated by experts in the field of coaching using a sport-specific rubric that assigns points in each category.
Complete listing of all 2017 NHSACA National Coach of the Year finalists.
TWO WYOMING HIGH SCHOOL COACHES TO BE INDUCTED
INTO NATIONAL COACHES HALL OF FAME
The Wyoming Coaches Association (WCA) and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) are honored to announce that Briant Teichert of Cokeville High School and Todd Dayton of Cokeville High School have been selected for induction into the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame. Their induction ceremony will be held on June 20, 2017 at the NHSACA national convention in East Peoria, IL.
Coach Teichert, who has coached for 34 years, has been a part of 26 total state championships. He has served on the WCA Board of Directors and has been selected as WCA Coach of the Year numerous times. Briant has been a NHSACA Coach of the Year finalist and was named National Coach of the Year for Girls Basketball in 2015.
Coach Dayton is a 42-year coaching veteran and has won 21 state championships during his tenure. He has served on the WCA Board of Directors and has been selected as WCA Coach of the Year on many occasions. Todd is a two-time NHSACA Coach of the Year finalist.