Madison Daily Leader - News - 01/03/2013 - Cordts is Boys' Cross Country Coach of Year

01/03/2013

Cordts is Boys' Cross Country Coach of Year

By LARRY LEEDS, Sports Editor


	Bob Cordts

The South Dakota High School Coaches Association has announced the Coach of Year awards for the fall of 2012.

Among the award winners is Madison cross country coach Bob Cordts.

Cordts took over as head cross country at Madison High School in 2004. He served as an assistant for two years before being named the head coach.

Cordts led the Bulldogs to the state title this past fall at Huron.

"I was pleasantly surprised of this honor," he said. "I am humbled by it, as it is selected by my peers."

Cordts gives credits to many people for this award, including his assistant coaches (Peg Hansen, Adam Ericsson and John Bintliff), his athletes, Jim Dorman for hiring him, Bud Postma and, most of all his father, Jim Cordts.

"My dad played a huge role in who I am," he said. "I will still discuss things with him."

This is the first time that Cordts has won this award.

"I was very fortunate to work with a great group of kids," Cordts said. "I love working with kids and athletes."

Other nominees for the Boys' Cross Country Coach of the Year award were Phil Bjorneber, Parker; Jesse Coy, Rapid City Stevens; Chris Gruenhagen, Brookings; Karen Karim, Custer; and Eric Pooley, Sioux Falls Lincoln.

Other Coaches of the Year and nominees are as follows:

Girls' Cross Country -- Larry Buffington, Gayville-Volin. Other nominees: Jason Bohl, Garretson; Thad Caldwell, Rapid City Central; Coy, Rapid City Stevens; Todd Thorson, Ipswich; and Andy VanDeest, Spearfish.

Football -- Steve Hansen, Dell Rapids. Other nominees: Dan Aaker, Winner; Brian Hermanson, Sioux Falls Washington; Lenny Schoreder, Canistota; Adolph Shepardson, Deubrook Area and Jay Wammen, Harding County.

Volleyball -- Kari Jung, Warner. Other nominees: Anita Boeck, Arlington; Jill Christensen, Parker; Don Craig, Dakota Valley; Holly Lynch, Sioux Falls Roosevelt; Darci Wassenaar, Sioux Falls Christian.

Last year's winners were girls' cross country, Thorson, Ipswich; boys' cross country, Bjorneberg, Parker; football, Kim Nelson, Sioux Falls Roosevelt; and volleyball, Erika Paladino-Hazlett, Sioux Falls Lincoln.

The 2012 Coaches of the Year will be recognized at the annual awards banquet in Aberdeen on July 17 in conjunction with the summer coaches' clinic.