PRESS RELEASE

SIOUX FALLS – Merle Aske of Aberdeen Central, Tom McGough of Miller, and Todd Thorson of Ipswich are among the National High School Athletic Coaches Association 2023 NHSACA Coach of the Year Finalists from South Dakota. To be considered for this award a nominee has been determined to have outstanding coaching longevity and win-loss record, championship years, awards received and service to  the coaching profession and to the athletes of the State of South Dakota.

As a finalist everyone will be honored at the National Awards Banquet to be held at the NHSACA 58th Annual Conference in Lincoln, NE on July 27, at 5 p.m. at the Lincoln Station Great Hall, Haymarket District. This annual event is attended by athletic directors and coaches in 19 sports from throughout the United States.

The 2023 Coach of the Year finalists from South Dakota are: Jeff VanLeur of Bridgewater-Emery High School in the sport of football; Bill Vincent of Sioux Valley High School in the sport of boys’ basketball; John Donovan of Chamberlain High School in the sport of wrestling; Troy Sturgeon of Brandon Valley High School in the sport of girls’ track & field; Todd Thorson of Ipswich High School in the sport of girls’ cross country; Tom McGough of Miller High School in the sport of boys’ cross country, Kirk Hogen of Vermillion High School in the sport of golf; Don Barnes of O’Gorman High School in the sport of tennis; Marla Tegethoff of Platte-Geddes High School in the sport of cheer; Merle Aske of Aberdeen Central High School in the sport of soccer; Joey Struwe of Sioux Falls Lincoln High School athletic director; and Cindee Mutchelknaus of Menno High School assistant coach in girls’ sports

The National High School Athletic Coaches Association announces the upcoming induction of Ken Bruckner of Menno and Richard “Doc” Michel of Rapid City into the NHSACA National Hall of Fame. This year’s induction ceremony for the Class of 2023 will take place at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s National Convention at the Lincoln Station Great Hall, Haymarket District on July 25, at 6 p.m. This year’s class includes 38 coaches from 25 states across the nation.

Mr. Bruckner and Mr. Michel were selected for this national honor by their state’s high school coaches’ association. This selection was based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, and other specific state criteria. The National High School Athletic Coaches Association is the oldest coach’s association in the nation formed by coaches, for coaches, and has honored coaches from across the nation with induction into the NHSACA National Hall of Fame since 1996. Bruckner and Michel will now be added to this illustrious list of coaches in honor of their outstanding careers.