NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Wednesday the state-by-state winners of its fourth annual High School Coach of the Year award for track & field.
Started in 2014, the award is bestowed to selected coaches based on a number of criteria: their teams' finishes at their respective state championships, the number of different events in which athletes were qualified, individual championships and how their teams' performances stack up to previous years, among other criteria.
One boys coach and one girls coach from each state - and the District of Columbia - is selected.
Each honoree will receive a trophy from the USTFCCCA recognizing his or her achievements.As a bonus, the winners from each state are now in consideration for the USTFCCCA's National High School Track & Field Coach of the Year Award. One boys coach and one girls coach will be chosen by a panel of experts and those names will be announced later this month.
Rob Cloutier - Shenendehowa Girls
The Girls Team from Shenendehowa came close to scoring a State Title in every discipline in 2017. Winning a relay title in the Winter, with a US #1 performance in the 4x800m, they won an individual title on the track when Hannah Reale took the 800m title in the Spring. Jillian Shippee swept the throwing events Indoors, while setting a State Record both Indoors and Outdoor. Alex Tudor took runner up in the Federation Triple Jump final, while their Girls 4x100m took bronze in the Federation Championship.
Extra Credit - Q/A with Coach Cloutier Heading into XC 2017
Malcolm Burks - Newburgh Boys
The Boys Team from Newburgh saw a spectacular performance at the Outdoor State Meet across both relay and individual events. His 4x400m team would go #4 All-Time by Season's end, placing third overall at Outdoor Nationals in North Carolina. Newburgh now holds three of the six fastest times ever run in the event in State History. In addition, Robert Walker was the New York State Champion in the 400m Hurdles, going #12 All-Time in that event as well. Many of his graduating seniors are going on to 4-year colleges, with an intent to compete in the NCAA.
Extra Credit - Podcast with Coach Burks from last summer about his program