Brookfield East's Mike Rose earns national coaching honor
BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) - Brookfield East girls swimming coach Mike Rose has been named a 2020 National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Rose is one of 23 coaches selected for the honor. Longtime Cuba City boys basketball coach Jerry Petitgoue was also selected from Wisconsin.
Rose has spent more than 30 years coaching swimming at Brookfield East. He has coached the girls since 1985, but also spent 14 seasons with the boys team.
The Spartans girls program won back-to-back team state titles for the first time in 2019 and 2020. He also has a boys state title in 1996.
At this year's state tournament, the Spartans set state records in the 200-yard medley relay, 50-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relay.
"This just happens to be a couple years where we have some truly exceptional athletes," said Rose. "You know the big thing is I get to work with some really - not just great athletes - but really great kids, great families. So it's a lot of fun all the time.
The award was based on the 2019-20 school year.
More information on the coaches award from a release by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association is below.
"Five other Wisconsin coaches were recognized as Section 4 Coaches of the Year, including Tim Moore of Lourdes Academy for girls cross country, Matt Cranston of River Falls for girls hockey, Brett Ogorzalek of McFarland for boys soccer, Dave Lindow of East Troy for boys tennis and Matt Verbeten of Wrightstown for wrestling.
The NFHS has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982, honoring coaches in the top 10 boys and girls sports by participation numbers and in two other sports – one for boys and one for girls.
Winners of NFHS awards must be active coaches during the year for which they receive their award. This year’s awards recognize coaches for the 2019-20 school year. The selections are based on a coach’s record, membership in and affiliation with coaching and other professional organizations, involvement with other school and community activities and programs, and coaching philosophy."