All-time national coach of the year honorees going back to 1970 as selected by the editors of HighSchoolHardwood.com.
Note: Selections retroactive from 1996 back based on research by Doug Huff, a McDonald’s All-American selection committee member since the game’s inception; Our coaching honors often reflect achievement over more than one season and are meant to honor as many mentors from different parts of the country as possible.
— Kurt Keener, Detroit Country Day (Birmingham, Mich.) 25-3
2012 — Vito Montelli, St. Joseph (Trumbell, Conn.) 25-1
2011 — Ken Novak, Jr., Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) 31-1
2010 — Charles Smith, Peabody (Alexandria, La.) 41-0
2009 — Kevin Boyle, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) 30-3
2008 — Fred Pickett, Chester (Chester, Pa.) 33-1
2007 — Phil McNeely, Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) 39-0
2006 — Chuck White, West Anchorage (Anchorage, Alaska) 28-2
2005 — Doug Lipscomb, Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 31-1
2004 — Joel Hawkins, Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, La.) 34-3
2003 — Robert Hughes, Dunbar (Ft. Worth, Texas) 37-1
2002 — Floyd Irons, Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.) 29-1
2001 — Russ Gilmore, Hobbs, (Hobbs, N.M.) 25-2
2000 — Frank Allocco, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) 31-1
1999 — Gene Pingatore, St. Joseph (Westchester, Ill.) 32-1
1998 — Morgan Wootten, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 34-1
1997 — Frank LaPorte, St. Joseph (Alameda, Calif.) 31-4
1996 — Wayne McClain, Manual (Peoria, Ill.) 31-2
1995 — Bernard Giffith, St. Augustine (New Orleans, La.) 37-1
1994 — George Pitts, Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.) 27-2
1993 — Steve Smith, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 30-0
1992 — Bill Hitt, Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.) 33-0
1991 — Bill Ellerbee, Simon Gratz (Philadelphia, Pa.) 27-1
1990 — Landon Cox, King (Chicago, Ill.) 32-0
1989 — Bob Hurley, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) 32-0
1988 — Dave Lebo, Carlisle (Carlisle, Pa.) 33-0
1987 — Gary McKnight, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 31-1
1986 — Stu Vetter, Flint Hill (Oakton, Va.) 22-1
1985 — Walter Van Huss, Dobyns-Bennett (Kingsport, Tenn.) N/A
1984 — Ron Palmer, Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) 31-2
1983 — Bob Wade, Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) 31-0
1982 — Mark Amatucci, Calvert Hall (Baltimore, Md.) 34-0
1981 — Jennings Boyd, Northfork (Northfork, W.Va.) 23-3
1980 — Max Levin, Overbrook (Philadelphia, Pa.) 34-0
1979 — Don Richardson, Southwest (Macon, Ga.) 28-0
1978 — Bob Basarich, Central (Lockport, Ill.) 33-0
1977 — Ed McClusky, Farrell (Farrell, Pa.) N/A
1976 — Bill Green, Marion (Marion, Ind.) 23-5
1975 — Weldon Drew, Kashmere (Houston, Texas) 46-0
1974 — Robert Saulsbury, Wilbur Cross (New Haven, Conn.) 24-0
1973 — Jackie Carr, Wheatley (Houston, Texas) 43-1
1972 — Lofton Greene, River Rouge (River Rouge, Mich.) N/A
1971 — George McQuarn, Verbum Dei (Los Angeles, Calif.) 29-2
1970 — Ralph Tasker, Hobbs (Hobbs, N.M.) 26-1
Note: ESPN selections 2010-2012; EA SPORTS selections 2003-2009; Student Sports selections prior to 2003; Selections are based on high school accomplishment, not future college/pro potential, and are reflective of those that lead their teams to state championships. The editors of HighSchoolHardwood.com do not knowingly select fifth-year players, and those ineligible due to age or academics, Mr. Basketball USA or to its various All-American teams.
Ronnie Flores is the editor of HighSchoolHardwood.com. He can be reached at . Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores