Schools
Hickory Creek Coach Mitch Stein honored as “Coach of the Year”
The honor went to Coach Stein after a "Three-Peat" of state wins
Hickory Creek Middle School teacher and coach, Mitch Stein, has had a successful year. He enjoyed a “Three-Peat” of Class AA Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) state titles for the girls’ softball team he has coached the past three years. Then he was recognized as one of the four IESA “Coaches of the Year” by the Illinois Coaches Association (ICA) and was honored at a banquet on February 18 in Bloomington, Illinois. This was the first year that the ICA has recognized IESA coaches.
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Stein stated, “It was such a great honor to receive this award and be recognized by fellow coaches. This recognition says coach of the year, but it is because we had the team of the year. I was blessed to work with such wonderful athletes and fantastic young ladies. These girls, along with Coach Erin Nemeth, made me look good. I accepted the award for all of us.”
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This past softball season was exciting, as the Hickory Creek Tigers finished undefeated at 22-0 and it was the second year in a row they went undefeated, going 43-0 in that period. This the third year the Hickory Creek Tigers Team has won the state title winning in 2015-2017. Stein credits the athletes with coming to the team ready to play after several years of travel softball experience but saw the girls come together at a new level as teammates and classmates.
Stein is a seventh grade resource teacher at Hickory Creek. Along with the softball team, he also coaches the track and field team where the seventh grade girls’ team won the state title last year tying with Parkside from Normal, Illinois. Adding to his coaching experience at the school was serving as assistant baseball coach prior to his current softball coaching position.
Along with being honored as “Coach of the Year,” Stein was also recognized by the District 157-C Board of Education at its February 21 board meeting.
Shown in first photo: Hickory Creek Middle School Girls’ Softball Team members (l-r) Chloe Geijer, Maddie Pomykalski, Katie Stewart and Danielle Stewart with (center) Coach Mitch Stein.
Shown in second photo: Coach Stein with his family after being honored as “Coach of the Year” by the Illinois Coaches Association.
Shown in third photo: Coach Stein was honored by the District 157-C Board of Education at their February 21 Board meeting.
