Jeff’s Harper earns Assistant Coach of the Year

[dstruck]

June 11, 2012
SPORTS IN BRIEF: June 12, 2012
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> SOUTHERN INDIANA —  

>>H.S. WRESTLING

Jeff’s Harper earns Assistant Coach of the Year

Jeffersonville assistant wrestling coach Zach Harper was voted the indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year, according to IHSWCA vice president and Jeffersonville head wrestling coach Danny Struck. 

Harper is a lifelong Jeffersonville wrestler and coach. Harper has been an active member of the Team Jeff Wrestling Club, either as a wrestler or coach, since the club’s creation in 1991. 

He has served as an elementary coach, Parkview Middle School’s head coach, a Jeffersonville assistant coach and a Team Jeff coach for the past seven years. 

During Harper’s tenure as an assistant coach at Jeffersonville, the Red Devils have won three Hoosier Hills Conference championships and five sectional titles. 

In addition to his coaching duties, Harper serves on the IHSWCA board as Southern Indiana’s regional representative, as well as on the team state duals committee. 

“I am very excited for Zach, and for the Jeffersonville Community,” Struck said in a release. “I am blessed to coach with my best friend each day. He does so many things behind the scenes from fixing things in the wrestling room, to moving mats, setting up meets, driving kids to meets and just dealing with me. I can’t express my thanks enough for what he does for our kids, and myself. Furthermore, I am just so excited that the kids of our community get to be coached by a person that is the state’s coach of the year. It is just one more reason why things at JHS are special for our kids.”

Harper will be recognized at the IHSWCA Hall of Fame banquet after this coming season’s IHSAA State Finals. 

— Sports Editor Matt koesters

[RegionRoyalty]

What is the basis that this award is decided upon?  Did Jeffersonville have a record-breaking year in terms of SQ's or placers?  There seems to be just a small conflict of interest here..

[Mattyb]

What is the basis that this award is decided upon?  Did Jeffersonville have a record-breaking year in terms of SQ's or placers?  There seems to be just a small conflict of interest here..

Why question this? I see way too much negativity on this board. Our sport does not need that. We all love our sport.

I have never met Jeff Harper. With this said, it appears that he has dedicated himself to making our sport better and helping countless youth. I'm sure that he volunteers countless hours and sacrifices "family time" to help our youth.

Bottom line- Many of us do the same (for our youth) and get knocked down or criticzed for our efforts. WHY?

Hats off to Coach Harper. We need more like him! No doubts here.

[MattM]

It's voted on so not a major conflict.   I will say Coach Harper is very involved with wrestling activities at Jeff year round, so is deserving of recognition.

A big part is the board has to receive viable nominees for the honor.  Usually several very active and deserving coaches are over looked because their names are never submitted.

[Y2CJ41]

Does anyone have a history of this award?

[bgcoach]

Congrats Zach! Well deserved.

[wrestlinfan]

Congratulation Zack!   You are a great leader and mentor to our wrestlers!

[tskin]

Kudos to Coach Harper.....Little known fact about Coach Harper, he once saved a squirrel from being run down by a run away golf cart by jumping in front of it and sacrificing himself.

[PreparetoWin]

Big congrats Zach....Couldnt think of anyone more deserving.  Love coaching against you guys, Continue to do what you do!!!