DAVE CALDWELL OF SANTA FE PREP AND GEORGE MAYA OF MAYFIELD RECOGNIZED BY NFHS AS NATIONAL COACHES OF THE YEAR
Indianapolis, IN – Twenty-three high school coaches from across the country have been selected as 2018 National Coaches of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association.
The NFHS, which has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982, honors coaches in the top 10 girls sports and top 10 boys sports (by participation numbers), and in two “other” sports (one for boys and one for girls) that are not included in the top 10 listings. The NFHS also recognizes a Spirit coach as a separate category. Winners of NFHS awards must be active coaches during the year for which they receive their award. This year’s awards recognize coaches for the 2017-2018 school year.
Two of New Mexico’s own, Dave Caldwell of Santa Fe Prep and George Maya of Mayfield High School, were selected by the NFHS as National Coaches of the Year for 2018. Coach Caldwell took the award for girls swimming while Coach Maya was selected for girls basketball.
This is Coach Caldwell’s 11th year in charge at Santa Fe Prep. He also coached 20 years at the collegiate level. “I felt like it was a group effort of my colleague helping me out at school and the support of the community,” said Caldwell about winning the honor.
Coach Maya is in his 36th year of coaching, the last 24 as head coach at Mayfield. He has close to 500 career wins, eight finals’ appearances, and three state titles. Getting this honor is amazing,” said Maya. “I have a passion for basketball and kids and that’s what kept me going so long. I’ve been blessed with my administration and colleagues.”
Several New Mexico coaches were also named Section 6 (Southwest) winners as coach of the year in their sport. Section 6 includes New Mexico, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. Here is a list of those winners:
Dusty Bean, Artesia HS – Boys Golf
Dick Johnson, La Cueva HS – Boys Tennis
Duane Trewern, Silver HS – Softball
Dave Caldwell, Santa Fe Prep – Girls Swimming & Diving
George Maya, Mayfield HS – Girls Basketball
For additional information pertaining to this announcement, please contact Dusty Young, NMAA Associate Director at (505) 977-5385 or dusty@nmact.org.
*we recently caught up with Artesia’s Dusty Bean and talked with him about the Section 6 honor
