Click here to view the Coach of the Year announcment of the MHSAA website

It is indeed an honor for me to be selected as the 2010 High School Coach of the Year. I know from experience that there are many High School coaches each year who are deserving of special recognition for their efforts. Thank you to the MHSAA and Grey Cup Legacy Committee for choosing to recognize me and the Basketball program at Westgate this year.

I need to take just a moment to publicly acknowledge a number of individuals and groups who are responsible for me being up here this afternoon.

To start with the most obvious, you can't be selected if you're not nominated so thank you to my colleague Jen How. Jen is someone who always looks for opportunity's to recognize and celebrate the achievements of others. Thanks Jen!

Thank you to Board and Administration of Westgate and the parents of our student athletes for you're strong support of athletics at Westgate. It's fun to play in front of such appreciative fans.

As you all know, when you are coaching at the varsity level you are building on a foundation that has been laid by other coaches, so I want to say thank those staff and volunteers who have given generously of their time and talents to the basketball program at Westgate. The list is too lengthy and my memory to shaky to even attempt to name them all.

I want to say a special thank you to the young men at Westgate that I have thoroughly enjoyed coaching over the years. Their willingness to work hard in practice and the care and respect they show for each other and I make it a pleasure to spend time with them.

Lastly I would not have been able to devote the time that is required to build a program if things weren't being looked after on the home front. To paraphrase a quote I read that was attributed to Bud Grant: "A successful basketball coach needs a great point guard, a loyal dog, and a patient wife - and not necessarily in that order." I want to thank my wife Arlene for her patience with me. Many evenings and weekends were spent as a solo parent to our three children. Thanks sweetheart for your support and encouragement.