Sioux Falls, SD-The National High School Athletic Coaches Association has named the 2025 NHSACA Coach
of the Year Finalists from South Dakota. To be considered for this award, a nominee has been determined to
have outstanding coaching longevity and win-loss record, championship years, awards received, and service to
the coaching profession and the State of South Dakota athletes.
All finalists will be honored at the National Awards Banquet at the NHSACA 60 th Annual Conference in Rapid
City, SD, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 5:00 PM MDT at the Rapid City Ramkota Hotel located at 2111 N
LaCrosse Street, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 and phone number 605-343-8550. Athletic directors and
coaches attend this annual event representing 19 sports from throughout the United States.
The 2025 NHSACA Coach of the Year finalists from South Dakota are Jason Wagoner of Sioux Falls Jefferson
High School in the sport of Boys’ Cross Country; Misty Larson of Chester Area/Pierre High Schools in the sport
of Boys’ Track and Field; Jesse Coy of Rapid City Stevens High School in the sport of Girls’ Cross Country;
Rachelle DeBeer of Deubrook High School in the sport of Girls’ Track and Field; Les Coin Sioux of Falls
Lincoln High School in the sport of Gymnastics (Special Sports); Pat Moller of Mitchell High School in the
sport of Tennis; Linda DeBoer of Miller High School in the sport of Volleyball; Lance Pearson of Rapid City
Central High School in the sport of Wrestling; Steph Daly of Aberdeen Central High School Girls’ Assistant
Coach; and Craig Nowotny of St. Thomas More High School Boys’ Assistant Coach. Craig Nowotny was
selected National High School Boys’ Assistant Coach of the Year.
The National High School Athletic Coaches Association announces the upcoming induction of Arlin Likness of
Yankton and Tom McGough of Miller into the NHSACA National Hall of Fame. This year’s induction
ceremony for the Class of 2025 will take place at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s
National Convention at the Rapid City Ramkota Hotel on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 6:00 PM MDT
Mr. Likness and Mr. McGough were selected for this national honor by their state’s high school coaches’
association. This selection was based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, and other specific
state criteria. The National High School Athletic Coaches Association is the oldest coach’s association in the
nation, formed by coaches, for coaches, and has honored coaches from across the nation with induction into the
NHSACA National Hall of Fame since 1996. Likness and McGough will now be added to this illustrious list of
coaches in honor of their outstanding careers.
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