IHSA Honors Hersey Girls Gymnastics Coach Following State Title

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — After the team's first state title ever last February, the coach of the John Hersey High School girls gymnastics team has been named an Illinois High School Association Coach of the Year. Shannon Barrett, a special education teacher for Township High School District 214, was announced as the winner Tuesday as part of the National Federation of State High School Associations program.

"Congratulations to all of these worthy individuals on being selected as IHSA Coaches of the Year," IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. "As a former high school coach myself, I understand the time and commitment it takes to help shape young people."

RELATED: State Champs Recognized — Hersey Girls Gymnastics Won Team Title

The IHSA state finals were held at Palatine High School. Hersey won the overall team title, holding off Downers Grove, with a score of 146.25. 1 to 145.4 for the runners-up. The Huskies were also divisional, league, sectional and regional champions last season.

Barrett has been coach of the Huskies for the past 12 years. Her assistants include Brad Kotrba, Kurt Waller and Joon Yun.

Barrett and the team were lauded last April at an Arlington Heights Village Board meeting.

"I am really honored to have these girls on my team. I've never had a better group of girls that I've ever coached," Barrett said at the time. "They are dedicated. They are driven. They are hard workers. They don't like the word, 'no,' so I tell them they need to stop. If they're injured, they keep going."

According to the IHSA, coaches of the year are selected based on the results of the previous school year, as well as other elements such as career success, positive leadership, sportsmanship, and contributions to the sport.

State coaches of the year then complete further information for the NFHS, which is reviewed by a national committee, who selects eight Section winners in each sport and one National winner in each sport. Illinois is located in NFHS Section 4 along with Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin.