Schools
D230 United Girls Lacrosse Coach Named IHSA Lacrosse Coach of Year
Lacrosse finishes 20-0 and 4th in State
Jim Malec, varsity coach of the District 230 Girls Lacrosse Team, consisting of athletes from Stagg, Sandburg, and Andrew, was recently named the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Lacrosse Coach of the Year.
Coach Malec was recognized after leading the District 230 United Girls Lacrosse Team to the IHSA Girls Lacrosse State Finals in the spring of 2023, which is just the fifth year that the IHSA has contested a state tournament. D230 United finished the 2023 regular season with a perfect 20-0 record en route to placing fourth in the state.
IHSA Assistant Executive Director Susie Knoblauch said, “There are many high school girls lacrosse programs in the state that have long-established traditions and are located in areas that are already hotbeds for the sport. It is very impressive that Coach Malec has been able to build such a successful program so quickly, especially when pulling players from three different high school campuses, which can sometimes be an impediment to building a cohesive program. The fact that his team accomplished so much so quickly, especially with a roster that featured 17 underclassmen in 2023, speaks volumes about him as a tactician and coach. Additionally, in all my interactions and observations, Coach Malec proved to be a positive and thoughtful leader. Watching him coach made it no surprise to me that the young ladies on his roster have bought into his vision for the program. We are proud to have him represent Illinois and the IHSA as the Girls Lacrosse State Coach of the Year in Illinois.”
Find out what's happening in Orland Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Each year the IHSA honors coaches in 31 sports and activities with the distinction of being named State Coaches of the Year in Illinois. Honorees are chosen by the IHSA administrator in charge of each respective sport, based upon a criterion that includes success, program-building, positive coaching, sportsmanship, and respect towards contest officials. Each of the state nominees will now have the chance to be named the National Coach of the Year in their respective sports by the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations).
