Jason Christenson
This year's National Coach of the Year is Jason Christenson from Southeast Polk High School (IA) and the National Assistant Coach of the Year is Keith Laeha from Kamehameha Big Island (HI). Both Christenson and Laeha were selected from the eight section winners. The section winners were voted on by each of the NWCA State Reps after they had nominated a Coach of the Year from their respective states.
Christenson (National, Section 4, and Iowa Coach of the Year) just completed his 28th season of coaching and his 18th at Southeast Polk High School. Christenson's 2018-19 squad finished as Dual Team State Champions and State Runners Up at the Individual State Tournament with 11 qualifiers, 6 placers, and an outstanding 3 individual state champions. This now gives Coach Christenson 8 State Titles (4 Dual and 4 Individual) and 5 Runner-up finishes. He has received numerous Coach of the Year honors from such organizations as: USA Wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Iowa Wrestling Coaches & Officials Association, and the Iowa Wrestling Federation.
Laeha (National, Section 7, and Hawaii Asst. Coach of the Year) just completed his 40th season of coaching and his 16h at Kamehameha Big Island. During his career, he has served as both an assistant and as a head coach while also finding time to volunteer club teams on the big island. He has long been an avid fan and advocate for the sport of wrestling.
“Our National Coach of the Year winners, Coach Jason Christenson, and Coach Keith Laeha, each demonstrate the ability to inspire their athletes to persevere and thrive in the sport of wrestling. These recipients' outstanding contributions to our sport are too numerous to list, but I know that the most important impact that they will make is through the relationships forged in the wrestling room with each of their athletes who will carry that legacy forward. We are proud to honor coaches from across the nation each year through the Boy's Coach of the Year Awards Program which recognizes Head and Assistant Coaches at the State, Section, and National Level. It is through quality coaching that we will be able to continue to save and grow our sport.†Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director.
SECTION – SCHOLASTIC BOYS HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR
SECTION COACH SCHOOL STATE
Section 1 Ron Serrano Massapequa High School NY
Section 2 Mike Faus New Kent High School VA
Section 3 Randy Steward Sonoraville High School GA
Section 4 Jason Christenson Southeast Polk High School IA
Section 5 Norm Manstedt High Plains Community Schools NE
Section 6 Kevin Reed Midlothian High School TX
Section 7 Robert Hesia Kamehameha Kapalama HI
Section 8 Nate Laslovich Bozeman High School MT
SECTION – SCHOLASTIC BOYS ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
SECTION COACH SCHOOL STATE
Section 1 Reggie Jones Jr. Wantagh High School NY
Section 2 Greg Sill Franklin Regional PA
Section 3 Andy Medders Camden County High School GA
Section 3 Michael R. Lachney Sr. Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School LA
Section 5 Jason Kelber Valentine High School NE
Section 6 Brandon Adamson Lamar High School CO
Section 7 Keith Laeha Kamehameha Big Island HI
Section 8 Trenton Culp Glennallen High School AK
STATE – SCHOLASTIC BOYS HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR
SECTION COACH SCHOOL STATE
Section 1 Ricky Shook Danbury High School CT
Section 1 Darby McLaughlin Springfield Central High School MA
Section 1 Eric Jensen Mt Ararat High School ME
Section 1 Brock Hoffman Bow High School NH
Section 1 Michael Markey West Essex High School NJ
Section 1 Ron Serrano Massapequa High School NY
Section 1 Darren O'Meara Spaulding High School VT
Section 2 Aaron Harris Smyrna High School DE
Section 2 Mike Thomas Moore Traditional High School KY
Section 2 Ryan Mackin Owings Mills High School MD
Section 2 Michael Ritter Wauseon High School OH
Section 2 Mike Hahesy Erie Cathedral Preparatory School PA
Section 2 Mike Faus New Kent High School VA
Section 2 John Bonecutter Point Pleasant High School WV
Section 3 Blake Dutton McAdory High School AL
Section 3 William Pafford Wakulla High School FL
Section 3 Randy Steward Sonoraville High School GA
Section 3 Kent Masson Teurlings Catholic High School LA
Section 3 Billy Baker St. Stephens High School NC
Section 3 Leon Boulware Indian Land High School SC
Section 3 John Kramer Wilson Central High School TN
Section 4 Jason Christenson Southeast Polk High School IA
Section 4 Ron Ryan Mt Olive High School IL
Section 4 Tony Currie Adams Central High School IN
Section 4 Steve Vlcek Manchester High School MI
Section 5 Mike Garcia Hutchinson High School KS
Section 5 Daryl Bradley Monett High School MO
Section 5 Troy Jesperson Grenora Public School ND
Section 5 Norm Manstedt High Plains Community Schools NE
Section 5 Jeremy Ask Canton High School SD
Section 6 Derrick Aynes Berryville High School AR
Section 6 Pat Laughlin Pueblo East High School CO
Section 6 Monte Maxwell Aztec High School NM
Section 6 Erik Ford Piedmont High School OK
Section 6 Kevin Reed Midlothian High School TX
Section 7 Victor Gonzalez Walden Grove High School AZ
Section 7 Joe Terribillini Rancho Bernardo High School CA
Section 7 Robert Hesia Kamehameha Kapalama HI
Section 7 Wade Phreson Spring Creek High School NV
Section 7 Brock Moore Pleasant Grove High School UT
Section 8 Brian Whittern Unalaska High School AK
Section 8 Patrick Owens Kuna High School ID
Section 8 Nate Laslovich Bozeman High School MT
Section 8 JD Alley Culver High School OR
Section 8 Travis Hughes Mt. Spokane High School WA
Section 8 Travis Peak Kelly Walsh High School WY
STATE – SCHOLASTIC BOYS ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
SECTION COACH SCHOOL STATE
Section 1 Keith Lynch Danbury High School CT
Section 1 Dwayne Miller Taconic High School MA
Section 1 Jim Worthington Wells High School ME
Section 1 Mark Williams Londonderry High School NH
Section 1 James Becker Nottingham High School NJ
Section 1 Reggie Jones Jr. Wantagh High School NY
Section 1 Brian Roderick St. Johnsbury Academy VT
Section 2 Jason Hewes Delcastle Vo-Tech DE
Section 2 Jarvis Elam Union County KY
Section 2 Ed Obendorfer Damascus MD
Section 2 Jon Hampshire Woodridge OH
Section 2 Greg Sill Franklin Regional PA
Section 2 Zach Olson Powhatan High School VA
Section 2 Ryan Asbury John Marshall WV
Section 3 Nick Tucker Oxford High School AL
Section 3 James Vernon Wakulla High School FL
Section 3 Andy Medders Camden County High School GA
Section 3 Michael R. Lachney Sr. Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School LA
Section 3 Teague Little Lumberton High School NC
Section 3 Ryan Shaw Indian Land High School SC
Section 3 Patrick Simpson Montgomery Bell Academy TN
Section 4 Jeff Evans Southeast Polk High School IA
Section 4 Paul Faris Montini Catholic High School IL
Section 4 Joe Somerville Jeffersonville High School IN
Section 4 Alfred Biland, Sr. Anchor Bay High School MI
Section 5 Tim Johnson Burlington High School KS
Section 5 Ben Hohensee Monett High School
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now