Stacy Bessire (L) and Shelton Ervin (R) were selected as the Texas Coach of the Year winners
Photo Credit: Stacy Bessire - My San Antonio Express-News and Shelton Ervin - Humble ISD
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Today, the he U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced their High School Track & Field Coaches of the Year awards.
For the past eight years, one coach for boys track and field and one for girls track and field for each state have been selected for the performance of their team during the season. A review panel measures success based on performance at the state track meet, team score and margin of victory, rankings, individual championships, and prior years success.
Each honoree will receive a trophy from the USTFCCCA recognizing their achievements and consideration for the national coach of the year award.
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Girls Coach of the Year
Stacy Bessire was selected as the Texas girls Coach of the Year; she led Universal City Randolph to the UIL 3A girls state championship. Randolph used double points from all three relays. They won the 4x100 relay by over a complete second with their 47.01performance, added a runner-up in the 4x200 relay by going 1:41.77, and then finishing sixth in the 4x400 relay in 4:04.36.
Bessire led Randolph to the state title by guiding three freshmen to the state meet in individual events and that resulted in three state titles.
Sprinter Taylor Nunez won the 100m, 200m, and the long jump. Fellow sprinter Briana St. Louis finished third in the 100m and was runner-up in the triple jump Jaela Smith was fourth in the 800m.
Bessire led a young and inexperienced group to the state meet and accomplished the goal, but even more impressive was leading a group of sprinters, jumpers, and relays through the end of the season to be healthy enough to perform at a high level.
Boys Coach of the Year
Humble Summer Creek head coach Shelton Ervin won his second consecutive Coach of the Year Award by leading his team to back-to-back UIL 6A boys team championships. Last year, he won the National boys Coach of the Year award.
This year, Ervin directed a team that was not only the best in the country, but arguably one of the best teams of all-time. Summer Creek boasted a couple of individual athletes and relays that spent time as the top state nationally ranked positions in their events.
Darius Rainey won the UIL 6A 400m and 800m state championship, a feat that had been attempted by a couple of athletes, but never successfully until this season where he ran 45.9 and 1:50.63. Donovan Bradley finished runner-up at the state meet in the 110 meter hurdles and third in the 300 meter hurdles, Aaron Davis was the top long jumper most of the season and won the 6A title in 25-3.75, their 4x400 relay was the top ranked relay all season long with a 3:09 season best and their sprint medley relay ran the second fastest time ever with their 3:19 win at Texas Relays.
Add a 10.49 100m runner who was sixth at state, 60 foot shot putter who was fourth at state and No. 12 nationally ranked 40.63 4x100 relay and you can see how powerful Ervins squad was.
Like with Bessire, Ervin's greatest accomplishment wasn't just teaching and training student-athletes about winning. He guided them to complete an end goal with health on their side.