Coach of the Year

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Deadline: 11:59 pm on the Wednesday following MIFA IE State Finals

Coach of the Year is an award designed to recognize a coach in each area of Speech Activities. It is meant to recognize a coach's achievements and contributions during a single school year. MSCI recognizes the areas of Debate, Theatre, Individual Events, Middle Level, and Assistant Coaches.

2024 Coach of the Year: John Rutherford, Forensic Coach of the Year (W. E. Groves High School); Alec Olweean, Assistant Coach of the Year (Portage Central High School); Deb Marsh, Debate Coach of the Year (Dexter High School); Heather McKaig, Theatre Coach of the Year (Novi High School) - NOT PICTURED ABOVE; Dan Jacobs, Middle Level Coach of the Year (The Roeper School)

2023 Coach of the Year: Brian Karsten, Forensic Coach of the Year (Grand Rapids Christian); Chris Pavlicko, Assistant Coach of the Year (Troy High School); Chris Kuhlman, Debate Coach of the Year (Utica Academy for International Studies); Dawn Battice, Theatre Coach of the Year (Anchor Bay High School); Ben Bellamy, Middle Level Coach of the Year (Greenhills)

2022 Coach of the Year: Chris Kuhlman, Forensic Coach of the Year (Utica Academy for International Studies); Wendy Holt, Assistant Coach of the Year (Birch Run High School); Ryan Nierman, Debate Coach of the Year (W. E. Groves High School); John Rutherford, Theatre Coach of the Year (W. E. Groves High School)

2021 Coach of the Year: Tyler Baas, Forensic Coach of the Year (Portage Central High School); Kaghen Miller, Assistant Coach of the Year (Portage Northern High School); Ruth Kay, Debate Coach of the Year (Detroit Country Day School); Lori Duncan, Theatre Coach of the Year (Heritage High School)

2020 No Coach of the Year Named - COVID YEAR

2019 Coach of the Year:  Amy Janz, Forensic Coach of the Year (Grass Lake High School); Nate Ritsema, Assistant Coach of the Year (Grand Rapids City High School); Ken Weinstein, Middle Level Coach of the Year (Leslie High School), Kirstin Carolin, Theatre Coach of the Year (Henry Ford II High School)

2018 Coach of the Year: Leanne Schmidt, Debate Coach of the Year (Notre Dame Prep); Andrew Brock, Assistant Coach of the Year (The Roeper School); Mackenzie Hagood, Middle Level Coach of the Year (Saline Middle School); Tom Richert, Forensic Coach of the Year (Mason County Central); Jackie Charneski, Theatre Coach of the Year (St. Johns High School)
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2017 Coach of the Year: Shelley Venema, Debate Coach of the Year (Saline); Pat Corcorran, Assistant Coach of the Year (Walled Lake Western); John Rutherford and Hayley McKinney, Forensic Coach of the Year (W.E. Groves); Aleks Luchin, Middle Level Coach of the Year (Birmingham Covington)

​2016 Coach of the Year: Sam Bagenstos, Debate Coach of the Year (Greenhills); Rick Stevens, Assistant Coach of the Year (North Branch); John Rutherford, Theatre Coach of the Year (W.E. Groves); Barb Ebeling, Middle Level Coach of the Year (Greenhills); Amy Urbanowski, Forensic Coach of the Year (Birch Run)

2015 Coach of the Year: Courtney Bassett, Middle Level Coach of the Year (Covington MS); Adam Blaylock, Assistant Coach of the Year (Bloomfield Hills HS); CeCe Weeks, Theatre Coach of the Year (Loy Norrix HS); Ashley Bowen, Forensic Coach of the Year (Portage Northern HS); John Lawson, Debate Coach of the Year (W.E. Groves HS)
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2014 Coach of the Year:  Debora Marsh, Debate Coach of the Year (Dexter High HS); Cindy Stevens, Middle Level Coach of the Year (North Branch MS); Bill Lapham, Theatre Coach of the Year (Battle Creek Central HS); Ryan Particka , Assistant Coach of the Year (Flint Powers Catholic HS); Kathy Tar, Forensic Coach of the Year (Divine Child HS)

2013 Coach of the Year: Chris Kuhlman, Debate Coach of the Year (Utica Academy for International Studies); Chris Wessell, Assistant Coach of the Year (Portage Northern HS); Tara Heywood, Middle Level Coach of the Year (Portage North MS); Becca Weissman, Forensic Co-Coach of the Year (Detroit Country Day);
Ruth Kay, Forensic Co-Coach of the Year (Detroit Country Day)

2012 Coach of the Year:  Danielle Harsh, Forensic Coach of the Year (Andover HS); Craig Hennigan, Debate Coach of the Year (West Bloomfield HS); Dawn Battice, Theatre Coach of the Year (Anchor Bay HS)