Announcing the Wisconsin Forensics Daily Coach of the Year Award
December 20, 2007 – 10:16 am by: Nick BubbCoaches are the tireless advocates of debate and forensics. They spend countless hours away from their family and friends, and dedicate their lives to the instruction of students in one of the most valuable skills they can learn. While both the WDCA and WFCA award coaches on a yearly basis with the Hinz and Coach of the Year awards, these awards often under award successful coaches because they are not popular with all members of the Wisconsin coaching community. To that end, Wisconsin Forensics Daily is creating its own coaching award - that will be an active traveling trophy.
In the future WFD will have an open nominating process for all coaches, but due to the time constraints (the year is coming to a close - and WFD operates in the non-academic world), this year’s coaches are chosen by executive fiat. Read below for this year’s list of nominees and the procedures for casting your ballot!
Mary Wacker, Brookfield East.
Earlier this year Mary coached the WFCA State Championship team. This completes a series of exceptionally strong performances by the Brookfield East forensics team which includes: the 2004 NFL National Runner-Up in Duo Interpretation, a 2005 NFL National Finalist in Humorous Interp, and a 2006 NFL National Runner-up in Humorous Interp. This year at NFL Nationals with two Octafinalist in Humorous Interp. Along with the 2007 WFCA State Championship Brookfield East earned state individual champions in Group Interp and Impromptu Speaking. For these reasons, WFD is proud to nominate Mary Wacker as a WFD Coach of the Year candidate.
Jay Johnson, Sheboygan North
A long time coach at Sheboygan North, who retired after the last forensics season to focus on his family, Mr. Johnson has been a tireless advocate for forensics and his students. A past-president of the WFCA and a coach of three runner-up teams at the state tournament (that only placed second by a combined total of twelve points in 2002 and 2003). Last year Sheboygan North achieved great individual success, claiming WFCA State Championships in Demo, OIL (which marks their Sixth championship of the event since 2000 - claiming the title in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007), Humorous Interp, and Special Occasion Speaking. Their State Champion in HI - David Colton - was also a NFL National Semi-Finalist. For these reasons, we are proud to nominate Jay Johnson as a WFD Coach of the Year candidate.
Bill Batterman, Marquette
No one is a bigger advocate for policy debate in Wisconsin than Bill Batterman. Since returning to Wisconsin in 2002, Bill has coached a number of teams to local and national success. Bill’s teams have consistently represented Wisconsin well, earning bids to the National Tournament of Champions in 2003 (with Nicolet), 2005 and 2006 (both with Marquette). As an assistant with Appleton East in 2004 and again with Marquette in 2005, Bill’s teams placed among the top 20 teams at NFL Nationals in policy debate. Bill has also seen considerable success in state. In this year alone Bill had students in elimination rounds of all varsity level competitions, including a semi-finalist team in public forum, a quarter finalist and the runner up in Lincoln Douglas Debate, and a quarter-finalist team, a semi-finalist team, and the Champions in the Varsity Switch Side division. Bill also had a high placing novice team. For these reasons, we are proud to nominate Bill Batterman as 2007 WFD Coach of the Year candidate.
Tim Scheffler, James Madison Memorial
Few individuals in the activity dedicate themselves more than Tim Scheffler. Unlike most coaches in the activity who teach during the day, Mr. Scheffler is an attorney. The practices of arguing well and articulating eloquently are integral to his profession. In his spare time, he is one of the few coaches who coach both forensics and debate. He is the only active head coach who has qualified a Lincoln Douglas Debater to the National Tournament of Champions and has had an extemp speaker in the semifinals of the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions. 2007 has been a very successful year for Tim’s students. During the forensics season he coached the Runner-Up Team at James Madison Memorial, a state champion in Public Address, and many national qualifiers. In debate, Mr. Scheffler coached a freshmen to NFL Nationals in Lincoln Douglas just a few short weeks of the student being the bottom ranked contestant at the state tournament. With Tim’s help, the same student was the third seed in Lincoln-Douglas Debate at this year’s state tournament. Tim’s success with young debaters continued as he coached a pair of freshmen girls to NFL Nationals in Public Forum. That success with public forum carried over into this year’s state tournament with two octafinalist teams (one because of a coach-over) and a semi-finalist. For these reasons, we are proud to nominate Tim Scheffler as a WFD Coach of the Year Candidate.
How to Submit a Ballot
To be eligible to submit a ballot you must be a head or an assistant coach at any program that actively participates in Debate or Forensics in the State of Wisconsin. Retired coaches and other important individuals associated with the activity may also be eligible to vote (e.g. college professors, NFL administrators, WHSFA Administrators, etc).
To submit a ballot RANK the individuals 1 through 4. One being your most preferred choice and 4 being your least preferred choice. Enter that information in an email and send it to me directly (if you know my email - if you don’t, but want to vote in this manner - just post in the comments and I’ll email you) or by using the submission form.
Ballots are due by January 15 and results will be announced shortly there after.
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