By JUSTIN RUST
The Daily Republic
STICKNEY -- After leading his team to the Class B boys' state basketball title, Corsica/Stickney's Mike Tuschen was named the boys' basketball coach of the year by the South Dakota High School Coaches' Association.
Even though he led Corsica/Stickney to the championship and a 21-2 record, Tuschen said receiving the award is a wonderful surprise.
"You just don't expect it," he said. "It comes as a surprise because there are a lot of good coaches out there. The state of South Dakota has a lot of great coaches, and it's hard to pick and choose certain ones at different levels."
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The other coaches in the running for the award were Derek Robey, of Sioux Falls O'Gorman; David Hollenbeck, of St. Thomas More; Eldon Marshall, of White River; and Galen Schoenfeld, of Viborg/Hurley.
Tuschen beat Marshall's White River team 54-47 in the Class B state championship game. Marshall won the award last year.
Robey led O'Gorman to the Class AA boys' basketball title and Hollenbeck guided St. Thomas More to the Class A championship over Schoenfeld's Viborg/Hurley team.
Tuschen said the award does not honor just him, but the basketball program as a whole.
"This award shows the hard work my players put in for a state championship, and my assistants Joel Wieczorek and Wade Gall," he said. "It is also awarding the parents for their hard work with the kids. This award just represents the whole program."
The other Coach of the Year recipients are Brandon Valley's Mark Stadem, girls' basketball; Webster Area's Wade Rausch, wrestling; and Deuel's Lynn Gudmundson, gymnastics.
Huron's Terry Nebelsick was named the Official of the Year and Aberdeen Central's Gene Brownell was named the Athletic Director of the Year.
