Sports in Kansas has released its annual list of finalists for coach of the year in the state of Kansas for each class. The list is decided upon by a statewide media panel in Kansas. Winners will be announced on the weekend of the 24th-26th of March. Postseason coverage is powered by Mammoth Sports Construction, Nex-Tech Wireless, Seatbelts Are For Everyone, Watco & Lewis Automotive Group.
2023 Sports in Kansas 6A Boys Coach of the Year Finalists
Benji George, Manhattan
Ryan Phifer, Blue Valley North
Aaron Ihm, Blue Valley Northwest
David Birch, SM Northwest
Adam Olerich, Olathe North
Brett Flory, Derby
Nick Perez, Junction City
Joe Auer, Wichita Heights
Brad Bell, Olathe West
Jeff Williamson, Garden City
Alex Hutchins, Washburn Rural
2023 Sports in Kansas 5A Boys Coach of the Year Finalists
Steve Eck, Kapaun Mt. Carmel
Dustin Leochner, Blue Valley Southwest
Bryan Miller, Hutchinson
Jordan Woods, Pittsburg
Mike Williams, Highland Park
Matt Rice, De Soto
Lee Baldwin, Emporia
Mike McBride, Basehor-Linwood
Martin Shetlar, Andover
Joe Jackson, Maize South
2023 Sports in Kansas 4A Boys Coach of the Year Finalists
Rick Zych, Bishop Miege
Patrick Battle, Atchison
Joe Newman, Wellington
Kurt Kinnamon, McPherson
Jordan Crawford, Circle
Trey O’Neil, Hugoton
Travis Smith, Clay Center
Kyle Deterding, Eudora
Don Blanchat, Baldwin
2023 Sports in Kansas 3A Boys Coach of the Year Finalists
Matt Meyr, Galena
Rick O’Neil, Wellsville
Scott Brown, Marysville
Mitch Fiegel, Wichita Collegiate
Bryson Flax, Southeast of Saline
Matt Simmons, Perry-Lecompton
Garrett Roth, Hesston
Evan Burns, Heritage Christian Academy
Parker McKee, Colby
Lonnie Paramore, Haven
Jerry Smiley, Columbus
Scott Burger, Sabetha
Steve Stitzer, Bishop Ward
2023 Sports in Kansas 2A Boys Coach of the Year Finalists
Bill Meagher, Thomas More Prep-Marian
David Losey, Horton
Michael Massey, Lyndon
Vance Unrau, Moundridge
Brett Froese, Inman
Derek Schneider, Sterling
Will Spradling, St. Marys
Tyler Keim, Wichita Independent
Derek Joiner, Ellinwood
Clint Heffern, Pittsburg Colgan
Curtis Pickering, Bennington
Joe Dohrmann, Medicine Lodge
2023 Sports in Kansas 1A-I Boys Coach of the Year Finalists
Jeff Kuckelman, Macksville
Chris Schmidt, Olpe
Nick Evans, Centralia
Tim Dolloff, Wichita-Classical
Zach Goodrich, Elyria Christian
Jamie Wolters, Osborne
Kyle Schmidt, La Crosse
Justin Steinbrock, Clifton-Clyde
Mark Applegate, South Gray
Erik Base, Little River
Nick Kyle, Norwich
2023 Sports in Kansas 1A-II Boys Coach of the Year Finalists
Ryan & Roger Perkins, Southern Cloud
Josh Gooch, Tribune-Greeley County
Cole Smith, Stafford
Bud Valerius, Coldwater-South Central
Jayson Tynon, Axtell
Derek Bevan, Bucklin
Lance Bergmann, Beloit-St. John’s/Tipton
Dennis Becker, Lebo
Kevin Sides, Northern Valley
Chris Walden, Cheylin
Cory Jensen, Hanover
