Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Sweet Home track and field coach Billy Snow has been named boys track Coach of the Year for the state of Oregon by the National Federation of State High School Coaches Association.
“Your contributions on behalf of high school athletics are deserving of our appreciation,” said NFHS Executive Director Robert F. Kanaby in a letter to Snow, announcing the honor.
Snow, who has coached at Sweet Home since 1984, confessed he’d hoped “the whole thing would go away” after he was nominated – “though I am thankful and appreciative,” he added.
Snow was nominated for the award by Sweet Home head football coach Rob Younger, whose classroom in the biology department at the high school is next to Snow’s. Younger, who represents six northwestern states in the NFHS Coaches Association,
said he nominated Snow, citing “his experience, his record – everything he does for the sport of track in the community.
“To me, he’s a role model for coaches in the state of Oregon,” Younger said. “He loves the sport and he gives a tremendous amount of time and energy to his sport. But more importantly, he’s a role model to students.”
In addition to his coaching duties, Snow is co-editor, with former Sweet Home cross-country coach Dave Martin, of “Who’s Who in Oregon Track and Field,” an annual 400-page compilation of high school track and field statistics widely used by coaches across the state. He said he suspects his efforts to publish the book, sales of which help fund the Sweet Home track and field and cross-country programs, was a factor in his receiving the award.
But other coaches said Snow’s emphasis on student athletes makes him highly deserving of the award.
“You won’t find anyone more dedicated and he has a great attitude,” said Randy Whitfield, a former state champion javelin thrower for the Huskies who has assisted with coaching track for five years. “I hold Billy in high esteem and that’s a short list for me.”
He said he appreciates Snow’s ability to allow assistants to “take care of things” without interfering unnecessarily.
“It’s definitely not an ‘I’m the chief, you’re the Indians’ deal,” said Whitfield, who learned about the honor from a reporter. “He’s truly concerned about you. He’s truly concerned about the kids.”
Jim Kistner, another assistant who was a head track coach himself, for 20 years at Pacific High School, said he was impressed by Snow’s work ethic, his “outstanding” attention to detail and his ability to work with people.
“He devotes an enormous amount of his own time to working with kids,” Kistner said. “He dedicates every bit of his energy during track season.”
He said Snow also is dedicated to keeping up with new findings and techniques in the sport.
“He’s just a quality person all the way around,” Kistner said.
Younger said as Snow is “well known around the state.”
“You go around the state of Oregon, as I do, and when people hear I’m from Sweet Home, their first question is ‘How’s Billy doing?'” Younger said.
Whitfield said Snow is “respected by other coaches” in the sport.
“He’s straight up,” Whitfield said. “He doesn’t pull tricks, the fast stuff to win a meet. He’s definitely a giver, not a taker.”