Whitefish coach wins state honor

The Daily Inter Lake

Pat McLaughlin, head coach of the Whitefish High School speech and debate team, has been named the 2009 Class A Coach of the Year.

It is the first time a Whitefish coach has received the award and the second time McLaughlin has been chosen. She was the top coach in 1991 at Polson High School, where she coached for 12 years.

Judie Woodhouse of Polson was named Class A Drama Coach of the Year. It is the second-straight year that coaches from Northwest Montana have swept the Class A coaching awards.

In 2008, Michael Christensen of Columbia Falls and Shelley Fisher of Libby were named the top speech and drama coaches, respectively.

"I feel honored and humbled to be in their company," McLaughlin said.

Each Class A coach may nominate a peer for the award. A coach's overall philosophy, team success and ability to work with other coaches and facilitate the program in the state are considered, McLaughlin said.

During the 2008-09 season, McLauglin's third at Whitefish, her team finished second at the state tournament.

She also has coached in Glasgow and served a four-year term as president of the Montana Forensic Educators' Association.