Don Olsen, MCA Executive Director, is pleased to announce that the following awards were presented this week at the National High School Athletic Coaches (NHSACA) annual convention in Sioux Falls, South Dakota:
Bob Raeth, 47-year coaching veteran, was named the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) 2018 “Assistant Boys Coach of the Year” tonight (6-27) in Sioux Falls, SD. Bob began his coaching career in 1971, at CM Russell High in Great Falls (8 years), followed by a 3-year stint at Whitefish before settling in at Flathead High for the past 36 years. Bob was recognized as Montana Coaches Association’s “Assistant Coach of the Year” in 2012.
Other Montana finalists for NHSACA “Coach of the Year” were: Jim Oberweiser, Drummond-Football, Bob Howard, Great Falls High-Boys Basketball, Dustin Gordon, Fairfield-Girls Basketball, Rob Stanton, Billings West-Boys T&F, Jim Carroll-Conrad-Girls T&F, Scott Filius, Havre-Wrestling, Helen Houlihan, Missoula (4 Schools)-Swimming, Rod Karst, Glasgow-Girls Cross Country, Carl Straub, Helena High-Boys Soccer, Pat Lynch, Manhattan-Golf, Robert Hislop, Polson-Tennis, Heather Epperly, Bigfork-Special Sports.
Dennis Murphy, Havre, was a finalist for “AD of the Year” and Paul Bills, Ennis, was a finalist for “Assistant Girls COY”.
Shirley Chesterfield-Stanton was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Hall of Fame at their Awards Banquet on June 26th at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls, SD.
Shirley has coached Track & Field for 40 years at Capital High School in Helena; 38 of those years serving as head mentor. In addition to coaching T&F, Shirley was a 13-year head gymnastics coach and a 5-year head volleyball coach. She retired from coaching in 2016.
Shirley’s T&F teams were two-time State Champions with 3-second place trophies and five 4th place finishes along with 3 divisional championships and 3 runner-up trophies. In Gymnastics she added 2 more State Championships, 2-second place finishes, and 2 third place trophies along with two divisional championships and two second-place finishes.
She was a 2-time MCA T&F COY, a 7-time MCA T&F COY nominee and a 2-time Region 7 Girls T&F COY. She was a Special Sports (Gymnastics) MCA COY.
Coach Chesterfield-Stanton was inducted into the MCA Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Helena Sports HOF in 2009. She served on the MCA Board of Directors from 1998-2008 and remains active with MCA as Awards Chairman and Ex-officio board member. Shirley has served on many MHSA committees and was awarded the MHSA Service award. She announced for many sporting events (football, volleyball, and basketball) for over 30 years at Capital along with working cross country meets, football, basketball and volleyball games.
MCA is proud to see Shirley, outstanding coach and long-serving MCA leader and friend, receive this well-deserved and prestigious award.
Don Olsen, MCA Executive Director, was awarded the “Carey E. McDonald National Citation” on Tuesday, in Sioux Falls. This award is given by NHASCA, to recognize persons of national renown who have made a unique contribution to high school, amateur or professional sports and/or the coaching profession…either as an individual or in a leadership role of a national or state organization. NHASCA Executive Director, Dave Dougherty said of Don, “ Your leadership in the MCA has been critical to the coaches in your association and the NHSACA is privileged to recognize your leadership through this award, which is named for the legendary Carey E. McDonald from Ocala, FL.”
Award winners, Shirley Chesterfield-Stanton, Bob Raeth and Don Olsen, as well as the finalists, will be recognized at the MCA Awards Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 2nd, at the CMR High School Auditorium (Great Falls) during the 51st Annual Montana Coaches Association Multi-Sports Coaching Clinic. After the awards ceremony, a complimentary luncheon will be served. Friends and family are welcome to attend.
