On Friday, the 2022 National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Coach of the Year finalists from North Dakota were announced. The final list is composed of 14 names and each finalist is among eight finalists for their category.

Among the 14 finalists from North Dakota are two local coaches, with Matt Pfau the girls’ soccer coach at Minot High School and Larry Sandy the football coach at Velva High School being part of the nominees.

Matt Pfau recently wrapped up another incredible season at the helm of Minot High girls’ soccer. He has helped lead the Majettes to back-to-back state titles in 2021 and 2022, and in both years, the Majettes put together a perfect season.

The two state titles are the first two in Minot High girls’ soccer history, but Matt Pfau, with the help of his excellent athletes that have come through the pipeline, has now set a new standard for girls’ soccer in Minot.

Larry Sandy has been at the helm of a successful Velva football program for quite some time and has taken home accolades for coaching on a local level several times. Under Sandy’s watch, Velva has won nine state titles and has developed the blueprint for trotting out a consistently competitive football program.

The remaining finalists are as follows: Kent Schweigert – Bismarck Century baseball, Gregg Grinsteinner – Dickinson Trinity boys’ basketball, Mike Forsberg – Fargo Oak Grove girls’ basketball, Kirk Zink – Hillsboro girls’ cross country, Kevin Ziegler – Bismarck Century softball, Grant Paranica – Grand Forks Central special sports, Chad Anderson – West Fargo Sheyenne tennis, Tracey Heisler – Grand Forks Red River girls’ track & field, Jay Schobinger – Dickinson volleyball, Jeff Schumacher – Bismarck wrestling, Paul Lean – Fargo Davies (Assistant Coach of the Year – boys), and Tim White – Griggs County Central (Assistant Coach of the Year – girls).

Congratulations to all the coaches for their dedication to their athletes and sports, and for receiving these incredible honors. The NHSACA National Coach of the Year finalists will be honored in Altoona, Iowa on Wednesday, June 22.