Wayland High School varsity softball coach Cheri Ritz has been named a National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations and is a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association national coach of the year.

Eight finalists from across the nation will be honored during The National Coach of the Year Awards Banquet at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s national convention at the Galt House in Louisville, Ky., June 29. The highlight of the banquet will be the naming of the NHSACA national coach of the year in 19 recognized sports categories.
Ritz was selected for this national honor by the state’s high school coaches’ association. This selection was based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, championship years, and winning percentage.

The nominees and finalists are evaluated by experts in the field of coaching using a sport-specific rubrics to assign points in each category. The National High School Athletic Coaches Association is the oldest coaches association in the nation formed by coaches, for coaches, and has been recognizing national coaches of the year since 1978.

This past summer she was named the Softball Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Coaches Association. Ritz has been the coach for Wayland High School for 20 years and has led her teams to two state championships (2015, 2006) along with multiple conference, district and regional titles.