The Illini West Boys Team and Coach John Artman celebrate their 2017 Class A state championship
Illini West Head Coach John Artman went from being a goat during the pre-season to G.O.A.T. status this past May. Artman's Illlini West Boys track and field team won the 1A state championship convincingly. Artman, in his 10th year as head coach has won many personal accolades as well as team items. Among those treasures is his star pupil son Connor Artman. Connor put on a show at the state meet with a long jump title and three other state medals.
NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Wednesday the state-by-state winners of its fourth annual High School Coach of the Year award for track & field.
Started in 2014, the award is bestowed to selected coaches based on a number of criteria: their teams' finishes at their respective state championships, the number of different events in which athletes were qualified, individual championships and how their teams' performances stack up to previous years, among other criteria.
One boys coach and one girls coach from each state - and the District of Columbia - is selected.
Each honoree will receive a trophy from the USTFCCCA recognizing his or her achievements.As a bonus, the winners from each state are now in consideration for the USTFCCCA's National High School Track & Field Coach of the Year Award. One boys coach and one girls coach will be chosen by a panel of experts and those names will be announced later this month.