To be eligible for the national award the recipients were first selected as the state and then regional award winners in their respective categories by a panel of NWCA scholastic representatives.
Gillespie, recipient of the 2013 NWCA National Coach of the Year award and head coach of 33 years, coaches for Wantagh High School in Wantagh, New York.
If I could split this award into 100 pieces I would give a piece to each person that has helped me along the way,” said Gillespie. “This year's team was a team that knew how to overcome adversity and win at each level. The staff was a group of outstanding coaches, administrators, and parents who helped contribute to this great season.”
During the 2012-2013 season Gillespie coached his team to a section eight Nassau County dual meet championship, Nassau County regular individual championship and New York Division I state championship, in addition to 40 consecutive match wins.
Gillespie further coached five wrestlers in 2013 to All-State wrestling honors.
Gillespie’s team was also ranked first in New York State Public High School Athletic Association Division I wrestling by New York state reporters during the 2012-2013 season.
Prior to coaching at Wantagh High School, for 19 years Gillespie served as the head coach at Long Beach High School in Long Island, NY.
During his tenure as coach, the Long Beach High School wrestling team won two New York state championship titles in 1982 and 1987, and earned a 13th place national ranking by Amateur Wrestling News.
In addition to the recent NWCA honors, Gillespie is a six-time Nassau County Coach of the Year, and was elected to the New York State Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006.
Coon, recipient of the 2013 NWCA National Wrestler of the Year award, wrestled for Fowlerville High School in Fowlerville, Michigan.
“It is truly an honor just to be in the running for this award, said Coon. “There are so many fantastic wrestlers out there to choose from so it is truly an honor to win this award.”
Coon wrestled to an undefeated, 55-0, senior season and state championship at 285 pounds. Currently Coon is the number one ranked high school heavy weight wrestler.
While in high school, Coon, a four year captain, wrestled to four state individual championships in four years.
Coon holds the school record for most pins, 166, and has a personal takedown record of 526 to 11 in four years.
In addition to his scholastic wrestling success, Coon has excelled nationally and internationally in wrestling. Coon was the 2010 Cadet freestyle and Greco-Roman national champion.
In 2011 Coon was the FILA Cadet freestyle world champion, FILA Cadet freestyle Pan American champion, FILA Cadet freestyle USA national champion, FILA Cadet Greco-Roman USA national champion, national Greco-Roman champion, and represented the USA at the world championships in Greco-Roman wrestling.
The following year, in 2012, Coon was the Junior national freestyle champion, national Greco-Roman champion, FILA Junior Greco-Roman national champion, USA national folkstyle champion and winner of the Triple Crown.
Coon completed his high school wrestling career with a record of 211-3, with the last 194 wins earned consecutively.
Following high school, Coon plans to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he will major in aerospace engineering.
Miller, recipient of the 2013 NWCA National Assistant Coach of the Year award, coaches for Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Tennessee.
He was an integral part of the coaching staff that led Cleveland's sweep of the state duals -- which included a 78-4 championship victory -- and the Blue Raiders' near 100-point victory in the traditional tournament.
During his tenure as coach, Miller has coached seven teams to state championships and has been a member of various national and international teams.
In addition, Miller has taken hundreds of athletes across the United States and the world so that they can experience the sport of wrestling.
Miller is also credited for building a significant amount of support for wrestling in the Cleveland community and in the state of Tennessee.
For their home dual meets, their program often packs at least 2,000 fans in the gymnasium each year for a match with their rival.
"I truly believe Cleveland is one of the coolest wrestling communities in America, and it is largely due to the heart and passion that Al Miller has had for this sport over the last 40 or so years," said Cleveland High School Athletics Director Eric Phillips.
Region Regional Award Recipient Nominee School (State)
1 Coach of the Year Paul Gillespie Wantagh High School (NY)
1 Assistant Coach of the Year Dean Duca Paulsboro High School (NJ)
1 Wrestler of the Year Anthony Ashnault South Plainfield High School (NJ)
2 Coach of the Year Chris Mary Canon-McMillan High School (PA)
2 Assistant Coach of the Year Glenn Haynes Cannon-McMillan High School (PA)
2 Wrestler of the Year Bo Jordan St. Paris Graham High School (OH)
3 Coach of the Year Tom Begulas Archer High School (GA)
3 Assistant Coach of the Year Al Miller Cleveland High School (TN)
3 Wrestler of the Year Kevin Norstrem Brandon High School (FL)
4 Coach of the Year Jeff Voss West Delaware High School (IA)
4 Assistant Coach of the Year Mark Shell Wilmington High School (IL)
4 Wrestler of the Year Adam Coon Fowlerville High School (MI)
5 Coach of the Year Greg Buckbee Arkansas City High School (KS)
5 Assistant Coach of the Year Shawn Lewis T.F. Riggs High School (SD)
5 Wrestler of the Year J’Den Cox Columbia Hickman High School (MO)
6 Coach of the Year Jerry Best Allen High School (TX)
6 Assistant Coach of the Year Mike Bejar Piedra Vista High School (NM)
6 Wrestler of the Year Oliver Pierce Allen High School (TX)
7 Coach of the Year Omar Delgado St. John Bosco High School (CA)
7 Assistant Coach of the Year Shawn Rustad Mesa Mountain View (AZ)
7 Wrestler of the Year Isaiah Martinez Leemoore High School (CA)
8 Coach of the Year Conrad Garner Bonners Ferry High School (ID)
8 Assistant Coach of the Year Dave Herndon Post Falls High School (ID)
8 Wrestler of the Year Lucas Randall North Marion High School (OR)
Region National Awards Name School
1 National Coach of the Year Paul Gillespie Wantagh High School (NY)
5 National Assistant Coach of the Year Al Miller Cleveland High School (TN)
5 National Wrestler of the Year Adam Coon Fowlerville High School (MI)
For more information about the national recipients and other scholastic winners visit the NWCA website at www.nwcaonline.com.
About the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: coaching development, student-athlete welfare, and promotion of wrestling.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now