United Soccer Coaches unveils 2020 National High School Coaches of the Year
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United Soccer Coaches announced the association’s 2020 National Coaches of the Year for High School boys’ and girls’ soccer as well as the National High School Assistant Coach of the Year.
2020 High School Boys’ National Coaches of the Year
Large School: Russ Plummer, Hendersonville High School (Hendersonville, Tenn.)
Small School: Jens Levisen, Austin High School (Austin, Minn.)
Private/Parochial School: Richard Whitelaw, Sun Valley Community School (Sun Valley, Idaho)
2020 High School Girls’ National Coaches of the Year
Large School: Blair Gerlach, Mars Area High School (Mars, Pa.)
Small School: Stacy Smith, Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)
Private/Parochial School: Jan Browne Morrissey, Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, Tenn.)
2020 High School National Assistant Coach of the Year
Brian White, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park, Kan.)
A 28-year member of the association, Plummer’s Hendersonville teams have won three Tennessee state championships. Active in his service to United Soccer Coaches, he served on the Boys’ High School Advocacy Committee and the High School Assistant Coach of the Year Committee. He compiled a 431-226-47 career record in 33 years as a coach and was the Tennessee State Coach of the Year three times. He was named the 2020 United Soccer Coaches High School Coach of Significance for Tennessee.
Levisen led Austin High School to a 13-0-1 and district and sectional championships in 2020, it was the fifth district title and fourth sectional crown under Levisen. He was named the Minnesota Coaches Association Section Coach of the Year for the third time and the United Soccer Coaches State Coach of the Year for a second time. His career mark in 16 years as a coach stands at 180-80-28.
Whitelaw led Sun Valley Community School to its third consecutive Idaho Class 3A State Championship this season, finishing the year at 9-3 overall. It was the fifth state championship overall for Whitelaw. He has now led his teams to 16 district titles and earned State Coach of the Year honors for the fifth time. His career record in 29 years now stands at 360-135-40.
Gerlach led his Mars Area squad to a 19-0-0 record and their second consecutive PIAA 3A State Championship in 2020. They finished the fall season ranked No. 1 in the final United Soccer Coaches High School Rankings, sponsored by Verizon. The team captured its 11 straight section title and has a 42-match unbeaten streak. He sports a career record of 321-61-17 in 22 years and was named the 2020 United Soccer Coaches High School Coach of Significance for the state of Pennsylvania.
Smith led Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy to an 18-1-1 record and the Idaho Class 3A State Championship in 2020. She was named the Idaho Girls 3A Coach of the Year for the fifth time as she led the team to their fifth state title to go along with their fifth region and district crowns. In 13 seasons as the head coach her career record stands at an astounding 94-4-3.
Morrissey led Battle Ground Academy to a 17-6-0 overall mark and the Division II A Tennessee State Championship in 2020. It was the seventh title game appearance and the fourth championship under her tutelage. Four players were named to the All-State Team. In 18 seasons at the helm, she has compiled a career record of 208-105-39.
White helped the Saint Thomas Aquinas boys team to its 17th Kansas State Class 5A championship this past season, finishing with a 14-3-2 record. He was named Eastern Kansas League Assistant Coach of the Year while helping the Saints to their 29th overall regional title and coaching a 2020 United Soccer Coaches All-American in Mitchell Farrar.
In addition to today’s announcement, the association’s 2020 Boys’ and Girls’ Regional Coaches of the Year and High School Regional Assistant Coaches of the Year have been posted in the Awards Central section of UnitedSoccerCoaches.org.
All of the awardees will be recognized at the 2021 United Soccer Coaches Digital Convention in January.
