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 Head Coach of the Year
Derek Nash-Burnsville High School It is my
pleasure as last year’s recipient of the MN State High
School Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award to get to
announce this year’s winner.
The nominees are: Jon McAlpin, Orono.
Kelly Flohaug, Centennial. Derek Nash, Burnsville. Jim Peine,
Hastings. Zach Wymann, Lakeville South.
As Head Coaches, we get all the glory.
We are the first name listed on awards and accolades for our
teams. We get first bragging rights when all goes as
planned. We are the ones quoted in the paper when there are
articles about our team’s successes. But the reality is that
there are others who are instrumental in those successes.
One group is the athletes who work so
hard and dedicate themselves to a particular sport; if they
didn’t sign up we wouldn’t have teams. From those with
natural talent to those who have to earn every bit of their
ability, our athletes are the reason behind what we do. All
coaches know being able to influence young people in a
positive way is very rewarding. As head coach, we are the
ones who are responsible for creating the program and
environment within our sport. This is a daunting task that
is not taken on lightly; we take it on with the knowledge
that we leave an impact on athlete’s lives. The difference
between OK coaches and great coaches is that great coaches
do so in a way that makes the athletes’ experiences in sport
a positive one, win or lose. This year’s winner has been
influencing athletes for many years in a positive way and
making skiing a life-long love for them, not just time spent
in High School Sports.
Another group is our assistant coaches;
without them we would all go crazy. There is too much to
take care of for one person. They are our foundation and our
support. My dad told me once. “The way to become a great
leader is to surround yourself with people that are better
and smarter than you. If you are the smartest, best person
in the room, your group’s ability is limited to your
knowledge. If you have people around you that are better and
smarter, they will make you think outside the box and help
create an environment in which innovation and creativity are
abundant.” I lucked out in the assistant department in that
I inherited really great assistants when I took over the
Bloomington-Jefferson and Kennedy Programs; they are full of
knowledge in areas that I am not. This year’s winner has
been running their program long enough that they have gone
through several assistants and has always chosen wisely so
they were always able to create an environment that lead to
many successful race days.
Please join me in congratulating
Derek Nash on winning the 2011 MN
State High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
Comments
made by 2010 COY Caryn Jones |
