Kentucky Recognizes Top High School Coaches for 2025-26
The National Federation of State High School Associations honors standout coaches for their state-level contributions.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The National Federation of State High School Associations has named its 2025-26 state Coaches of the Year. The Kentucky recipients include Jeff Stowers of Simon Kenton and Kelsey Etherton of Highlands.
Why it matters
The awards program acknowledges coaching accomplishments and significant contributions beyond the field of competition. Winners are now eligible for consideration for sectional honors within the federation.
The Highlands girls soccer team, led by Kelsey Etherton, finished the season with a 14-7-1 record and secured a KHSAA state runner-up title. The program evaluates nominees across 20 distinct sport categories.
The players
Jeff Stowers
He is the girls basketball coach for Simon Kenton, a school located in Independence.
Kelsey Etherton
She serves as the girls soccer coach for Highlands and led the team to a state runner-up finish.
National Federation of State High School Associations
This national organization oversees interscholastic sports and activities for member state associations across the United States.
The details
Coaches are selected based on their overall impact, including accomplishments within their sport and contributions to their respective schools and communities. Jeff Stowers serves as the girls basketball coach at Simon Kenton, while Kelsey Etherton heads the girls soccer program at Highlands.
Timeline
The NFHS awards program has recognized coaches since 1982.
Jeff Stowers resumed his head coaching role in 2024.
Kelsey Etherton took the head coaching position in 2024.
The Highlands girls soccer team became KHSAA state runner-up in 2025.
Honors were awarded for the 2025-26 period.
Culture Shift
The annual NFHS Coach of the Year award follows a structured, multi-tier evaluation system used to standardize coaching excellence across different states and sports. This process highlights a broader shift toward formalizing recognition for educators who extend their impact beyond standard instructional duties.
Local residents and school community members can expect continued engagement as these coaches advance to compete for sectional recognition. This program highlights the sustained professional standards held for mentors within the state's secondary school athletic departments.
The takeaway
Recognizing educators who excel outside of competition helps set a benchmark for mentorship and leadership in high school sports. These awards underscore the value placed on contributions that foster student growth beyond simple athletic victory.
Further reading
For more information on high school programming and standards, visit Kentucky Secondary Education.
More information
View the full NFHS Coach of the Year list on the official federation portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LINK nky.
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