July 12, 2026

Montana Coaches Association Media Release

The Montana Coaches Association is pleased to announce that three outstanding Montana Coaches have been selected for national recognition by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA).  Through a lengthy application and review process, several other Montana coaches were selected as Finalists.  At the national NHSACA convention in Coralville, Iowa on June 29 – July 1, the following awards were announced.

Scott King, former longtime coach and administrator at Malta High was inducted into the National Coaches Hall of Fame.  Coach King served the Harlem and Malta school system for 44 years, 39 of those years at Malta.  During that time, he was the head football and wrestling coach in addition to assistant track & field coach.  He was also the Activities Director during his tenure.  He was inducted into the MCA Hall of Fame in 2012.  He was an MCA Coach of the Year 4 times, has had teams that have won 3 football state championship titles along with 3 runner-up finishes and 1 runner-up finish in wrestling.  He coached several all-star football games, including head coach of the East/West Shrine Game.  He served the Montana High School Association on the football committee for 11 years.  King also served the MCA for many years in the roles of Class Director, President-Elect, President, and Past President.    
Owen Burch, longtime coach at Hamilton High School, was named National Golf Coach of the Year.  Burch has been the head coach at Hamilton for the past 22 years.  He was a National Coach of the Year Finalist 3 times, an MCA Coach of the Year 6 times, has had teams that have won 5 state championship titles along with 3 runner-up finishes, and has served the Montana High School Association as Class A Golf Representative for 13 years.   
Erika Cannon, longtime coach at Bozeman High School, was named as National Soccer Coach of the Year.  Cannon has been the head coach at Bozeman for the past 29 years.  She was a National Coach of the Year Finalist 3 times, an MCA Coach of the Year 3 times, has had teams that have won 8 state championship titles along with 6 runner-up finishes, and has been awarded Coach of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches Association 5 times.   

Congratulations to each of our finalists and national award winners!  They will receive additional recognition at the MCA Clinic and Awards Ceremony at 11:30 am on July 30th at CMR High School in Great Falls.

Submitted by Jim Carroll, MCA President, Conrad High School.  Contact him at 406-289-0208 if more information is requested.