Twenty-four coaches from around the state - including eight Northeast Ohioans - have been recognized by the National Federation of State High School Associations as 2011-12 Ohio Coaches of the Year in their respective sport.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association recommended these individuals to the NFHS based on nominations by each respective coaches association in the state.
Each of the individuals selected is being recognized and honored in grateful appreciation of outstanding service and unselfish devotion to interscholastic activities. In addition to the 24 state Coaches of the Year, the NFHS also selected seven Ohio coaches as Section 2 (Mideast Region) Coaches of the Year. The NFHS is divided into eight geographical sections with Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio making up the Mideast Region.
The list of 2011-12 NFHS Coaches of the Year is listed below.
Boys Sports
Amos Allison, Boys Tennis, Upper Arlington High School
Vincent Ciroli, Boys Cross Country, St. Clairsville High School
Michael de Bear, Boys Swimming and Diving, Upper Arlington High School*
Bob Eisenbraun Jr., Boys Bowling, Struthers High School
Michael Jones, Boys Ice Hockey, Sylvania Northview High School
Michael Mauk, Football, Kenton High School
Casey Milligan, Boys Golf, Pickerington High School North*
Tom Neubert, Baseball, Columbus St. Francis DeSales High School*
Peter Pullen and Paul Laurence, Boys Basketball, Dayton Dunbar High School
Ed Rarey, Boys Track and Field (Outdoor), Gahanna Lincoln High School*
Jon Unger, Boys Soccer, Madeira High School
Louis (Greg) Urbas, Wrestling, Lakewood St. Edward High School
Girls Sports
Diane Bell, Girls Track & Field (Outdoor), Gnadenhutten Indian Valley High School*
Dave Butcher, Girls Basketball, Pickerington High School North
Joe Corrigan, Girls Gymnastics, Mentor High School
Michael Haney, Girls Soccer, Cincinnati Mariemont High School
Kara Hardesty, Field Hockey, Bexley High School
Rick Hartings, Girls Bowling, Coldwater High School
Eldon Jones, Girls Cross Country, Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Ronald Lehman, Volleyball, Sunbury Big Walnut High School
Diane McCall, Girls Golf, Canfield High School*
Jim Piazza, Softball, LaGrange Keystone High School*
A Stephen, Girls Tennis, Dublin Jerome High School
Kevin Yates, Girls Swimming and Diving, Granville High School *Also selected as a 2011-12 NFHS Section 2 (Mideast Region) Coach of the Year
For more Northeast Ohio high school sports news, scores, photos and videos, visit usatodayhss.com/Cleveland.