Sauser receives national nomination

     Monticello High School cross country coach Dan Sauser is one of eight coaches who have been nominated as National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Coach of the Year finalists.

     The NHSACA nominates finalists in multiple high school sports; Sauser was nominated for boys cross country.

     He learned of his initial nomination in September. Over the holiday break, the list of nominated coaches was narrowed to eight finalists in each sport.

     “It’s definitely an honor to be nominated by your peers,” Sauser said. “It’s one thing to be nominated by other coaches within your state, but when you have people outside the state recognizing what you’re doing, it’s something pretty special.”

     The individual winners will be selected during the NHSACA National Conference July 20-23 in Lincoln, Neb.

     Sauser has coached the Panthers to four state championships in boys cross country, and two in girls cross country. Most recently, Monticello finished third in both divisions at the 2019 state meet in November.

– Pete Temple