SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – The CIF State office today announced the 2018-19 Eastbay Model Coach Award winners. Now in its 18^th year, the CIF Model Coach Award program is designed to recognize coaches who have served as positive role models in their schools and communities, and who have exhibited the traits apparent in the 16 principles of Pursuing Victory with Honor_sm.

      The 13 winners, nominated through their local CIF Section office, will receive an award and be honored at their sport’s State Championship or at an event of the recipient’s choosing.

      A model coach demonstrates and teaches the six core ethical values: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship (the “Six Pillars of Character”). The CIF believes that the highest potential of sports is achieved when teachers/coaches consciously Teach, Enforce, Advocate and Model (T.E.A.M.) these values and are committed to the ideal of Pursuing Victory with Honor_sm.

      “There is more to education-based athletics than just winning and losing. We honor and recognize those coaches who teach student-athletes not only the skills needed to excel but also those who are dedicated to teaching them the values of Pursuing Victory with Honor_sm and the Six Pillars of Character," said CIF Executive Director Roger L. Blake.

Heather Fax-Huckaby (Sweetwater High School) Basketball

Fax-Huckaby has coached the girls basketball team at Sweetwater High School for 14 years. She carries herself with dignity and respect and models what she expects of others. She has always set the highest standards for her student-athletes on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. She can always be found assisting her athletes in understanding the importance of excelling as basketball players and as students in the classroom.

Michelle Galarza (South East High School)Cheer

Galarza serves as a teacher and coach at South East High School. Her dedication and exceptional ability to work with students and teachers has been vital to her various roles. She has modeled high professional standards and accepts no less from her colleagues and the students she works with. She works diligently as an educator and coach to promote a positive learning environment for her students.

Todd Heil (Santa Barbara High School) Soccer

Heil has been coaching at Santa Barbara High School for 23 years. He demands each player represent the values instilled in the program including being respectful, honest, trustworthy and accountable for one’s actions not only on the field of play but in the classroom as well. He prides himself in making sure his players and program are recognized for their integrity and high moral standards. His character as a coach puts him in a class of coaches that are role models for young coaches who are entering the high school ranks of coaching.

Lorenzo Hernandez (Garfield High School) Football

Hernandez has been the head football coach at Garfield High School for nearly 20 years and also serves as a physical education teacher. He expresses his professional opinions in a manner that is always poignant, student-athlete centered and with a high spirit of collaboration. He holds his student-athletes accountable for their academic and athletic growth. Hernandez is the consummate professional who reflects all of the characteristics and behaviors that make a great coach and person.

Terry Logue (Bear River High School) Football

Logue has coached football for over 45 years with the last 29 years at Bear River High School. He represents everything that we aspire to in the realm of coaching and mentoring of young people. He is tirelessly dedicated and is able and willing to meet each player where he or she is, inspiring them to perform at a higher level than they ever imagined possible. He makes us all want to be better and has those intangible qualities that make him an absolute legend.

Sam Lopez (Selma High School) Wrestling

Lopez has been coaching wrestling for 30 years, with the last 10 years at Selma High School. He is all about instruction, technique, and enforcing strategy. His experience and strong skills in the areas of wrestling, leadership, and his fair objective put him in a class of his own. He should be recognized for his character, willingness, and student-centered approach for what’s best for his student-athletes.

Laura Schmitt (Redwood High School) Cross Country

Schmitt has a storied coaching career at Redwood High School that has spanned many years. She always has been a role model and uses athletics as an arena to teach life lessons. She teaches that what is most important is that you are happy – if you are happy, love your sport, and buy-in, success will come. Such is made evident by the fact that every athlete that goes through her program, whether fast or slow, strong or weak, departs a stronger, wiser individual as a result of Schmitt’s coaching and mentorship.

Steve Selland (Southwest High School) Basketball

Selland has tirelessly put his heart and soul into the boys’ basketball program at Southwest High School for more than 30 years. He has been a clear example of respect and responsibility, demonstrating model behavior for his student-athletes. His temperament and skills guarantee not only his success but also the improvement of his teams and the entire athletic department. Most importantly, he takes great pride in the character of his student-athletes when they exit his program and enter the world in their post-high school endeavors.

Ashlee Sherman (Oakland Technical High School) Wrestling/Badminton

Sherman has coached wrestling for 46 years, girls badminton for 15 years and has also served as a physical education teacher at Oakland Tech. He works diligently with his student-athletes and has consistently produced young men and women of character and taught good citizenship as a result of his athletic guidance. Sherman has left an indelible mark on the generations of students who have had him as a devoted teacher and coach.

Todd Sloat (Fall River High School) Football

Sloat has been coaching football at Fall River High School for many years as both an assistant and head coach. He emphasizes that everyone involved with the football program must have respect for the game. His teams have proven to win with dignity and, equally important, lose with class. Sloat’s leadership and advice make great athletes, but also leads to outstanding citizens.

Marcy Tarr (Marysville High School) Volleyball/Cross Country/Track & Field

Tarr has been coaching at Marysville High School for many years, fostering hope, belonging and excellence in students. The student-athletes want to compete for Tarr because she listens to them, sees their strengths, shows them how they can contribute to the team, and makes the experience fun, safe, and wholesome. Through athletics, she is teaching her student-athletes the meaning of hard work, responsibility and what it means to be part of a team.

Elisa Valenzuela (La Puente High School) Volleyball

A former student-athlete at La Puente High School, Valenzuela returned to her school and community to give back. She has proven to be a trustworthy and caring individual whose drive and determination transfer to her players through her enthusiasm and knowledge of the game She is a true role model for the student-athletes through her demonstrations of fairness, responsibility, and respect.

Rosemary Whisenton (Oakland Technical High School) Volleyball/Cheer/Softball

Whisenton has been a strong, positive force throughout her 40 years as a member of the Oakland Tech staff. She began coaching the cheer squad in 1980 and has also served as the school’s softball coach for 35 years and the girls volleyball coach for 30 years. A highly respected coach on campus, Whisenton’s teams are competitive and follow her example of good citizenship, respect, fairness and above all, responsibility. She is not just a coach, she is a mentor who is truly interested in the well-being of all students, not just athletes.