The following individuals were selected as State Coaches of the Year for the NCHSAA in 2019-2020 and were subsequently chosen as the top coach in their respective sport for the year in NFHS Section 3, comprised of the states in the southeastern part of the country.
NCHSAA & NFHS State & Section 3 Coaches of the Year for 2019-2020
Women’s Swimming & Diving – Meredith Lindblom (Green Hope)
The State and Section Coach of the Year for 2019-2020 in Womens’ Swimming and Diving is Meredith Lindblom from Green Hope. Lindblom guided the Falcons to the program’s first team state title while the Falcons grabbed a pair of individual event wins.
Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Rick Spencer (Weddington)
The State and Section 3 Coach of the Year in Men’s Indoor Track is Weddington’s, Rick Spencer. He has piloted the Warriors to three straight 3A Indoor team championships and four of the last five. His runners hold five 3A State Meet Records and an overall State Meet Record, including the 3A State Meet mark in three of the four relays conducted each meet.
Men’s Cross Country – Joan Mabe (Chapel Hill)
The 2019-2020 State and Section 3 Coach of the Year for Men's Cross Country is Chapel Hill’s, Joan Mabe. Coach Mabe’s Tigers grabbed the 2019 3A State Championship and have added another championship in 2020-2021.
Wrestling – Justin Harty (Northern Guilford)
The 2019-2020 State and Section 3 Coach of the Year in Wrestling is Northern Guilford head coach, Justin Harty. Coach Harty led the Nighthawks to the 3A State Dual Team Title in 2019-2020, defeating Enka 42-31 in a thrilling Championship match. The Nighthawks had their first individual State Champion in school history during the 2020 Individual State Tournament.
Football – Trent Lowman (East Surry)
The 2019-2020 State and Section 3 Coach of the Year in Football is East Surry’s, Trent Lowman. He receives the honor after winning the school’s first football State Championship in convincing fashion over Tarboro in the 1AA State Championship Game. The Cardinals have reached the final game of the Season at the 1AA level three straight years now.
NCHSAA & NFHS State Coaches of the Year for 2019-2020
Cheerleading/Spirit – Angela Stage (Davie)
In the sport of Cheerleading and Spirit, the State Coach of the Year in Cheerleading is Angela Stage from Davie. Her squad won the 2019 Carolina Cup for the second time in program history.
Women’s Basketball – Rachel Clark (Southeast Guilford)
The State Coach of the Year in Women’s Basketball goes to Rachel Clark from Southeast Guilford. Coach Clark’s team finished 30-1 and won their second State Championship in a row when they shared the title with E.E. Smith after the Championships were canceled by COVID-19.
Men’s Basketball – George Stackhouse (Westover)
Our state Coach of the Year in Men’s Basketball for 2019-2020 is George Stackhouse from Westover. Coach Stackhouse led the Wolverines to a perfect 30-0 record, sharing the 3A title with Freedom when the season was cut short by COVID.
Volleyball – Karl Redelfs (Green Hope)
In volleyball, the State Coach of the Year is Green Hope’s Karl Redelfs. His Falcons won the 4A State Championship for the fourth straight year in 2019, completing the year 27-2.
Women’s Golf – Moses Smith (Cox Mill)
The 2019-2020 State Coach of the Year in Women’s Golf is from Cox Mill, Head Coach Moses Smith led the Chargers to the 3A State Championship. The Chargers swept the team and individual championships as Elizabeth Lohbauer was the only player under par for the 2019 3A Tournament.
Men’s Soccer – Rick Pittarelli (Wake Forest)
In Men’s Soccer, the 2019-2020 State Coach of the Year award belongs to Rick Pittarelli from Wake Forest. Coach Pittarelli and the Cougars claimed the 4A State Championship in thrilling fashion with a 2-0 victory over R.J. Reynolds. The Cougars were 21-1-2 on the year on the way to the program’s second state title.
Women’s Cross Country – Kirk Walsh (Cuthbertson)
The State Coach of the Year in Women’s Cross Country for 2019-2020 is Kirk Walsh from Cuthbertson. Coach Walsh saw his Cavalier ladies claim the 3A State Championship for the second straight year, adding a third in 2020-2021.
Women’s Tennis – Jessica Eblen (Hendersonville)
The State Coach of the Year in Women’s Tennis for 2019-2020 is Jessica Eblen from Hendersonville High. Coach Eblen guided the Bearcats to the 2019 2A State Dual Team Title with a 5-4 win over NC School of Science and Math in the State Finals.
Men’s Swimming & Diving – Greggor Zoltners (Chapel Hill)
The State Coach of the Year in Men’s Swimming and Diving for 2019-2020 is Greggor Zoltners from Chapel Hill. Coach Zoltner’s Tigers grabbed the 3A State Championship in 2020, adding another in 2021. The Tigers racked up seven individual event championships, including a win in two relays in the 2020 State Meet.
Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Donald Davis (Cummings)
The State Coach of the Year in Women’s Indoor Track & Field for 2020-2021 is Coach Donald Davis from Cummings. Coach Davis is an NCHSAA Hall of Fame member who helped the Cavaliers bring home their second straight 1A/2A Indoor State Championship in 2020 while grabbing individual championships in four events.
