Coaches and Officials To Be Inducted Into The 2014 Hall Of Fame

It is with great pleasure that the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame (WCA) and the Wyoming Sports Officials Association (WSOA) release the names of their inductees for their respective 2014 Hall of Fame classes.

Kathy Hamer-Smith from Torrington High School and Mark Campbell from Natrona County Schools will be inducted into the NHSACA Hall of Fame on June 17, 2014 at the national convention at the Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Twenty-eight coaches from across the nation will be inducted at that time.

Coach Hamer-Smith and Coach Campbell were selected based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, and other specific state criteria.

The NHSACA has honored coaches from across the nation with induction into their Hall of Fame since 1996.

The WCA Hall of Fame will induct 6 coaches into their Hall of Fame ceremony July 25, 2014 in Casper at the Parkway Plaza during their statewide annual WCA convention.

This talented group is led by one of the most successful boys basketball coaches in Wyoming history...Mike Curry from Campbell County School District. Mike has coached for 34 years where his teams won 12 State Championships and 19 Regional Championships. His overall record is 605 wins and 152 losses. He was named the 2011 NHSACA National Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.

Brian Toomer, from Cokeville High School, has coached for 20 years and is noted for his success in volleyball where his teams won 8 State Championships and 12 Regional Championships. His teams won 395 wins and 129 losses and he was named WCA Coach of the Year 5 times and also the NHSACA Region 7 Volleyball Coach of the Year. He has also served on the WCA Board of Directors.

Jerry Patrick has coached for 42 years at Burlington High School where his girls basketball teams won 7 State Championships and 18 Regional Championships. He has an overall record of 601 wins and 219 losses. He also won 4 State Championships as the Head Volleyball coach. Jerry was named WCA Coach of the Year 7 times in basketball and 5 times in volleyball. He was also the Region finalist for NHSACA Coach of the Year 3 times.

Mark Campbell, from Natrona County Schools, has coached for 34 years as a successful assistant both at Natrona County High School and Kelly Walsh. He was also the head football coach at Saratoga High School and the head track coach at Midwest High School. As an assistant, he was a part of 3 State Football Championships, 3 State Basketball Championships, 6 Outdoor Track State Championships, and 1 Indoor State Track Championship. He served as President of the WCA and will be inducted into the NHSACA Hall of Fame in June.

Chuck Giesenhagen, from Green River High School, has coached for 32 years. His success has mainly been in track and field where his teams have won 5 Regional Championships and 1 State Championship. He was also the head football coach at Guernsey-Sunrise H.S. and has also coached middle school football and basketball and assistant football at Green River H.S. Chuck was named  the 2004 NHSACA Track and Field Regional finalist.

Jim Dolezal, from Mountain View High School, has coached for 26 years as both a middle school and head track coach. His teams won 3 State Track Championships and 7 Regional Championships. Jim was a Regional finalist for the 2009 NHSACA Girls Track Coach of the Year. Jim has also served as the WCA girls track representative on the WCA board of directors.

The Wyoming Sports Officials Association will induct three of their finest at the same induction ceremony at Parkway Plaza in Casper July 25th. The three inductees include:  Roosevelt "Rosie" Brown from Casper, who has officiated both basketball and track; Pat Harris from Riverton, who has officiated both football and basketball; and Keith Gemar, from Gillette, who has officiated both basketball and track. These officials will be presented their awards from Ron Laird and Trevor Wilson, the WHSAA Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner.

This year’s Distinguished Service Awards winners are Dennis Zowada from Lusk and Trevor Wilson from the WHSAA. These folks will be Honored at this year’s Hall of Fame and Coach of the Year Banquet held at the Parkway Plaza in July.

Information Courtesy: Larry Yeradi - President of the Wyoming Coaches Association and