Nebraska coaches, sports leaders named NHSACA national finalists

More than a dozen Nebraska coaches and athletic professionals are finalists for the 2026 Coach of the Year award.

The National High School Athletic Coaches Association has released its list of finalists, and 14 nominees are from Nebraska.

This year, the NHSACA National Coaches Convention is scheduled for June 29 to July 1, 2026 in Coralville, Iowa, highlighting the top high schools coaches and athletics leaders from across the country.

This is the full list of Nebraska's nominees.

• Rick Petri – Basketball (Girls), Kearney Catholic, Kearney, NE

• Erin Martinez – Special Sports, Grand Island Central Catholic, Grand Island, NE

• Keith Kester – Track & Field (Boys), Grand Island Central Catholic, Grand Island, NE

• Sam Jilka – Cross Country (Boys), Lexington, Lexington, NE

• Teresa DeGeorge – Soccer, Omaha Marian, Omaha, NE

• B.J. Christiansen – Swimming & Diving, Omaha Marian, Gretna, NE

• Stephen Bischof – Tennis, Elkhorn South, Elkhorn, NE

• Bill Heard – Softball, Gretna, Gretna, NE

• Chad Fox – Football, Wahoo, Wahoo, NE

• Sue Ziegler – Volleyball, Lincoln Lutheran, Lincoln, NE

• Kurt Holliday – Cross Country (Girls), Seward, Seward, NE

• Cody Wintz – Wrestling, Battle Creek, Battle Creek, NE

• Todd Hale – Golf, West Holt, Atkinson, NE

• Jim Weeks – Basketball (Boys), Auburn, Auburn, NE