Rob Younger has received other coaching awards in his career, but he says the one he got this year makes him the proudest.
Younger was named the Oregon Athletic Officials Association Coach of the Year, the first person to receive the award, which is in its inaugural year. The award was presented to Younger by OAOA Executive Director Jack Folliard at the annual banquet of the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association in Eugene on May 23.
Younger was nominated for this award by the Mid-Western Football Officials Association. In nominating him, MWFOA officials stated, “Younger demonstrates what is expected of a high school coach with his positive attitude towards those with whom he comes in contact.”
Younger said the award has “the most meaning to me” of any he has received as a coach.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with wins and losses, nothing to do with state championships,” he said. “It has to do with officials having respect for our program.”
Younger has served as head football coach at Sweet Home High School since 1988. In addition to his coaching duties, he serves on the Executive Board of the OSAA as the coaches’ association representative. An active softball and baseball umpire, Younger is the president of the Mid-Valley Softball Umpires Association and president-Elect of the Mid-Valley Baseball Umpires Association.
Younger has also been involved in the training of Oregon officials, presenting his thoughts on the professionalism of sports officials from a coaches’ point of view at numerous training clinics and classes.
Younger said he appreciates the fact that the nomination by the Corvallis-based MWFOA was supported throughout the state by officials from all high school sports.
“The thing that’s special to me, something I’m very pleased with, is the respect these officials have for our program €“ the sportsmanship, character of our players. That means a lot to me.”
Athletic Director Dave Goetz said he believes Sweet Home coaches and students are “very deserving” of the award.
“It shows that all the hard work we put in to try to instill sportsmanship and make our school a better place,” he said. “I’ve been to a lot of other schools throughout the state and none of them have the sportsmanship or even work to encourage sportsmanship like we do.
‘The coaches, teachers, students €“ the entire school district €“ are encouraging that kind of behavior.”
Younger emphasized that it wasn’t just him that won the award.
“A pet peeve of mine is when the head coach says in media “I did it,” he said. “The assistant coaches, the athletes, everybody contributes.”
He noted that officials’ impressions of the school start with how they are greeted by administrators and are further influenced by how athletes play, how coaches coach and how fans support their team.
“To say you are the best in our area and now in state from the officials association really means something,” he said. “Yes, my name’s on the plaque, but just my name only. I feel like it took a total group effort to win it.”