PA's Matt Soto named 2018 NHSCA Field Hockey Coach of the Year

The National High School Coaches Association (“NHSCA”) is proud to announce Matt Soto, head coach at Penn Manor High School in Millersville, Pennsylvania as its National High School Field Hockey Coach of the Year.

Soto led Penn Manor to its first-ever undefeated season in winning Pennsylvania Class 3A state championship in 2017, which also led to an overall No. 1 ranking in the Max Field Hockey Top 25 national rankings. The state title was the third for Soto and the Comets.

After winning the state championship, Soto told LancasterOnline.com, "They were destined to do it. They had their mind set from the beginning. They just stuck with each other, listened and did everything they could. I'm so proud of them."

Soto, who has coached at Penn Manor for 13 seasons, topped the 600-win mark in 2015. He began his career at the head coach at Middleburg High School.

“We are extremely pleased to honor  Coach Soto,” said Eric Hess, Executive Director of the NHSCA. “Coach Soto has not only established Penn Manor as one of the top programs in Pennsylvania, but also as one of the best in America.  His commitment to excellence for his student-athletes is second to none.”

It’s the third straight year that a coach from Pennsylvania has won the National Field Hockey Coach of the Year Award.

Throughout 2017-2018 school year, the NHSCA will be honoring high achievers in the high school coaching community by naming Coaches of the Year in a total of 20 boys’ and girls’ sports.  It’s the 19^th straight year that the NHSCA has presented its National Coach of the Year Awards.

Each one of the honorees will receive a beautiful trophy, plus they will be honored in the National High School Digital Sports Hall of Fame Museum that is currently under design.

Past NHSCA National Field Hockey Coaches of the Year:

2017 – Sue Butz-Stavin – Emmaus HS, Pennsylvania

2016 – Linda Kreiser – Lower Dauphin HS, Pennsylvania

2015 – Laurie Kerr – Warren Hills HS, New Jersey

2014 – Tara Worley – Lakeland HS, Virginia

2013 - Eileen Donahue – Watertown HS, Massachusetts

2012 – Lillian “Lil” Shelton – Severna Park HS, Maryland

2011 – Wendy Wilson – Tabb HS, Virginia

2010 – Danyle Heilig – Eastern Regional HS, New Jersey

2009 – Karen Klassner – Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania

2008 - Robin Chandler – The Hotchkiss School, Connecticut

2007 - Sue Butz-Stavin – Emmaus HS – Pennsylvania

2006 - Diane Chapman – Garden City HS – New York

2005 – Amy Longley – Hathaway Brown School, Ohio

2004 – Paul Doughty – Skowhegan HS, Maine

2003 – Debby Watson – Villa Duchesne HS, Missouri

2002 - Diana Walker – Sanford HS, Maine

2001 – Bob Derr – Lititz HS, Pennsylvania

2000 - Linda Nixon – Springfield Twp. HS, Pennsylvania