For the 17th time, the CIF state office has announced its winners of the annual CIF State 2017-18 Model Coach Award Winners. The honors were released on Wednesday in a program designed to recognize those coaches who are positive role models for their school and community. We primarily only cover football, boys hoops, girls hoops, baseball and softball on this web site, but all 13 deserve the spotlight.
Robert Anderson (Oroville) Basketball/Football/Golf/Volleyball
He has been a teacher and coach for the Tigers for the past 18 years.
Dave Barrett (Oceanside) Baseball/Football
We’ve gotten to know him over the years primarily when Oceanside hosted the Honor Bowl for football. Barrett is the AD there, has won more than 500 games as longtime baseball head coach and has helped coach in football.
Jeromy Blackwell (Strathmore) Football
He has been coaching football at Strathmore High School for the past 17 years and his team just this last season won the CIF Division 6-AA state championship with an undefeated record.
Diane Chiappone (San Dimas) Volleyball/Track & Field
As the volleyball and track and field coach for the Saints, she is truly the epitome of a champion for character.
Greg Coombs (Godinez, Santa Ana) Basketball
He currently serves as athletic director and head boys basketball coach at Godinez and has been coaching and teaching in Orange County for more than 36 years.
Carla Davis (West Valley, Cottonwood) Volleyball
She has coached volleyball at West Valley for nearly 25 years and has some spectacular totals, including 19 CIF Northern Section titles and 23 league crowns.
Fred Jones (Vacaville) Football/Wrestling/Tennis/Basketball
He has been a coach with the football team at 1969 (working with legendary former head coach Tom Zunino as well as with current head coach Mike Papadopolous). Jones also has been athletic director at Vacaville since 1998.
Kristin Jones (La Jolla) Girls Soccer
She has served as the girls soccer coach at La Jolla since 2004 and has spent countless hours mentoring her players and helping them achieve their college playing aspirations.
Linda Merrida (Pioneer, Woodland) Softball/Volleyball
She’s been our State Medium Schools Coach of the Year in softball and has been coaching softball at Pioneer for 14 years. Merrida has also coached volleyball for two years and has been athletic director nine years.
Dustin Nygaard (Tamalpais, Mill Valley) Golf/Soccer
His true passion for his teams and infectious desire to learn is admirable and model worthy.
Angie Papangellin (Presentation, San Jose) Girls Golf
She was the head golf coach at Presentation for 18 years and has had some of the top competitors in the CIF Central Coast Section.
Ken Shipley (Clovis West, Fresno) Girls Golf
Over his 12 years at Clovis West, Shipley has built an elite level program that has won the CIF Central Section Division I title 10 times.
Scott Young (Santa Teresa, San Jose) Cross Country/Track & Field
He not only coaches both boys and girls in both sports but also is the co-athletic director at the South San Jose school.
