National Coach of the Year Bobby Bribiesca (Photo By Jeffrey Graber) |
For most coaches, an undefeated season and a state championship would be about as good as it can get. For Northwest soccer coach Bobby Bribiesca, it just got better.
Bribiesca was named the 2011 National Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. It’s an honor Bribiesca said he never expected.
“I had no clue. I’m in a room where they are giving all these awards, and they say the national coach for High School is Bobby B, and I was shocked,” said Bribiesca. “I saw some of the resumes from my colleagues, and these guys are winners. Deep down I thought I didn’t have a chance.”
Not only did Bribiesca receive his award, but the 2011 team also received a plaque for finishing as the fifth-ranked team in the nation by the coaches association.
“All of these schools in the nation that play this sport, to be recognized 5th in the nation, it goes back to the players,” said Bribiesca.
Coach B, as his players call him, won the Coach of the Year award for the state of Kansas, which made him eligible for the Region 5 award. When he won the Region 5 award, he become eligible for the National honor; which comes from one of the eight regional winners, and is decided by a committee of 40.
“I was so proud. I sprinted from my seat to the stage I was so happy,” said Bribiesca.
For Bribiesca, it’s almost more than he could ask for.
“This is a team that a coach dreams about. I’ve been there a long time, I’ve had very good guys come out of Northwest, but not a group like this,” Bribiesca said. “I had talent, speed, strength and I had team chemistry, which can be very hard to work with. Everything just fell into place.”
Northwest finished third at the state tournament in 2010, but Bribiesca knew he had something special coming back, as only two seniors graduated from that team. From the start of the 2011 season, the target was squarely on the back of the Grizzly squad.
“In preparing them throughout the season, every day was a challenge. You can never be as good as you think you are. I told them ‘Don’t take anything for granted because the other team knew you were picked to win, so there goal is to beat you’.”
The 2011 season was a dream season for the Grizzlies, and one that won’t soon be forgotten by anyone associated with the club.
“I told them in my pregame speech before the finals. I said ‘Guys, cherish this moment, whether you win or lose, you’ll never forget it. This day, you’ll never forget for the rest of your life. Go out and make it a winner’, and we did.”
The Grizzlies are losing 13 seniors this season, but also return seven players who received significant playing time, and a junior varsity squad who spent the entire season practicing against the best team in the state. For a coach like Bribiesca, he’s always looking towards the future, and that next championship, but not without appreciating what his team accomplished this season.
“In my entire career, this is it. I’ve had some good ones, but this is the best.”
Bribiesca was named the 2011 National Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. It’s an honor Bribiesca said he never expected.
“I had no clue. I’m in a room where they are giving all these awards, and they say the national coach for High School is Bobby B, and I was shocked,” said Bribiesca. “I saw some of the resumes from my colleagues, and these guys are winners. Deep down I thought I didn’t have a chance.”
Not only did Bribiesca receive his award, but the 2011 team also received a plaque for finishing as the fifth-ranked team in the nation by the coaches association.
“All of these schools in the nation that play this sport, to be recognized 5th in the nation, it goes back to the players,” said Bribiesca.
Coach B, as his players call him, won the Coach of the Year award for the state of Kansas, which made him eligible for the Region 5 award. When he won the Region 5 award, he become eligible for the National honor; which comes from one of the eight regional winners, and is decided by a committee of 40.
“I was so proud. I sprinted from my seat to the stage I was so happy,” said Bribiesca.
For Bribiesca, it’s almost more than he could ask for.
“This is a team that a coach dreams about. I’ve been there a long time, I’ve had very good guys come out of Northwest, but not a group like this,” Bribiesca said. “I had talent, speed, strength and I had team chemistry, which can be very hard to work with. Everything just fell into place.”
Northwest finished third at the state tournament in 2010, but Bribiesca knew he had something special coming back, as only two seniors graduated from that team. From the start of the 2011 season, the target was squarely on the back of the Grizzly squad.
“In preparing them throughout the season, every day was a challenge. You can never be as good as you think you are. I told them ‘Don’t take anything for granted because the other team knew you were picked to win, so there goal is to beat you’.”
The 2011 season was a dream season for the Grizzlies, and one that won’t soon be forgotten by anyone associated with the club.
“I told them in my pregame speech before the finals. I said ‘Guys, cherish this moment, whether you win or lose, you’ll never forget it. This day, you’ll never forget for the rest of your life. Go out and make it a winner’, and we did.”
The Grizzlies are losing 13 seniors this season, but also return seven players who received significant playing time, and a junior varsity squad who spent the entire season practicing against the best team in the state. For a coach like Bribiesca, he’s always looking towards the future, and that next championship, but not without appreciating what his team accomplished this season.
“In my entire career, this is it. I’ve had some good ones, but this is the best.”
