The NFHS is proud to name Dave Van Sickle of Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona as the 2018-19 Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year!

With a career beginning in the mid-1980s, Coach Van Sickle has had a long career and has coached countless cross country runners. He takes pride in knowing that he has had a positive impact on hundreds of high school students and has opened their minds to the value of running. He stresses that cross country is a lifetime sport and often runs into former runners of his while out on runs with his current athletes.  

The NFHS is proud to name Dave Van Sickle the 2018-19 NATIONAL Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year!

School: Xavier College Preparatory

Seasons Coaching: 35 | State Championships: 10

Coaching Highlights: Region or Section Coach of the Year over 20 times and national finalist for the National Coach of the Year (NHSACA)

Reigning Division I state champion, 7-time team state runner-up, finished top 3 in state in the largest school classification 12 of the last 13 years, 5 individuals won 10 total individual state championships, most victories in Doug Conley Invite, 2-time Nike Cross Country Nationals qualifier, scored 32 points at state championships in 1995 (lowest score ever in the largest class), and region champions (1993-95, 97-08).

Philosophy of Athletics

Dave believes that extracurricular activities are the second half of education, including athletics. The time that sports coaches spend with kids is more than the classroom teachers. The teaching from coach to athlete extends way past the limits of academia. His goal as a cross country coach is to train everyone on the team to improve over the season and over multiple seasons, at a healthy but progressive rate. He wants to instill the importance of running and racing, as well as continued exercise past high school, college and throughout adulthood. Hundreds of athletes from Xavier College Prep have gone on to run in college since he started at the school. Two former athletes are currently Olympic hopefuls and these two have made U.S. National teams! He takes great pride in the girls that go on to college and run, set records and achieve NCAA All-America status. However, even more girls have continued to run into their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Several times as he's been running with his current team, he hears a women’s voice saying “Good morning Coach Van Sickle” on a canal bank at 5:30 a.m. Then she says, “I’m still running, Coach!” and he realizes that it’s a former Xavier runner from up to 30 years ago! The pride he feels at winning many state championships is minimal compared to the pride that he feels at seeing these girls that he's coached, grow up and live healthy lifestyles. That he had a part in introducing to them to the sport is what truly keeps him going!

See all of the 2018-19 National Coach of the Year recipients in our press release.