NFHS Recognizes Illinois Coaches of the Year, Names Fieldcrest’s Tina Fortner the National Spirit Coach of the Year
Per the release below (attached as well) from the NFHS below, Fieldcrest High School Competitive Dance Coach Tina Fortner was named the NFHS National Spirit Coach of the Year. Fortner is the 15th coach from Illinois to win the National Coach of the Year honor and the first in the Spirit category.
“Tina Fortner represents the best of high school athletics,” said IHSA Assistant Executive Director and Dance Administrator Tracie Henry. “She is a coach who is passionate about the young ladies on her team excelling not only when they step onto the floor to compete, but also when they are in the classroom and community. She is the type of coach who leaves a lasting impression on her student-athletes and is very deserving of this exceptional honor.”
The individuals below were the NFHS State Coaches of the Year in Illinois based upon the 2013-14 school year. State honorees were submitted by the IHSA earlier this school year to the NFHS. An NFHS panel then reviewed the candidates and selected Section winners, followed by National winners. Past Illinois state honorees are archived here
*Asterisks indicates coach was also a Section Coach of the Year
NFHS State Coaches of the Year - Illinois
Coach, School Sport
Derek Leonard, Rochester Football (11-Player)
Chad Lakatos, Edwardsville Boys Track & Field (Outdoor)
Neil Alexander, Lincoln Boys Basketball
Dave Greer, Pleasant Plains Baseball
Mark Heiderscheid, Edwardsville Boys Soccer
Michael Powell, Oak Park-River Forest Wrestling
Gene Jones, Metamora* Boys Cross Country*
John Nesbitt, Hinsdale Central* Boys Tennis*
Ken Colmone, El Paso-Gridley Boys Golf
Michelle Meyer, Normal University Boys Swimming & Diving
Roscoe Dowell, Cahokia Girls Track & Field (Outdoor)
Eric Orne, Quincy Notre Dame* Girls Basketball*
Greg Cothern, Pana Girls Volleyball
Chad Kutscher, Rochester Girls Soccer
Jim Scott, West Prairie Softball (Fast Pitch)
Todd Vohland, Decatur St. Teresa Girls Cross Country
Vince Desecki, Gurnee Warren Girls Tennis
Robert Guy, New Trier Girls Swimming & Diving
Patricia McGovern, St. Ignatius Girls Golf
Tina Fortner, Fieldcrest* Spirit*
Joe Hames, Plainfield Central Girls Badminton
Mark Tubb, Mascoutah Boys Bowling
Frank Navakowski, Glenbard West Boys Gymnastics
Yun Chen, Gurnee Warren Boys Volleyball
Jim Caliendo, Sandburg Boys Water Polo
Lindsey Siegel, Libertyville Girls Bowling
Kim Hostman, Geneva Girls Gymnastics
Jeff Wimer, Stevenson Girls Water Polo