The NFHS is proud to name Karl Koonce of Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy, Arkansas as the 2018-19 Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year!

After coaching for more than 45 years and being named NATIONAL Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2009, Coach Koonce is back at it again to be named the 2018-19 NATIONAL Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year! His prowess in coaching is evidenced by his two wins at the national level in different sports. Way to go Coach Koonce!

School: Lake Hamilton High School

Seasons Coaching: 46 | State Championships: 11

Coaching Highlights: State Coach of the Year for Boys Track & Field (1987, 03, 08, 09, 10), State Coach of the Year for Girls Track & Field (2011, 15, 17, 18), State Coach of the Year in Boys Cross Country (2006, 07, 08, 09, 13, 15, 16, 18), State Coach of the Year in Girls Cross Country (1990, 11, 12), Sectional Boys Track & Field Coach of the Year (2003, 08), Sectional Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year (2012, 13), Sectional Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year (2014), U.S. Track & Field & Cross Country Coaches Association "State Cross Country Coach of the Year 2017", National High School Coaches Association Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year (2019), and National Boys Track & Field Coach of the Year (2009).

Henderson State University Hall of Honor (2003), Arkansas Track & Field Hall of Fame (2004), Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Track Coach of the Year (2018), Inaugural Lake Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame (2019), and Arkansas High School Coaches Association (2019).

Coached 29 state team championships and 46 state runners-up, coached 159 All State in Boys track & field since 1985 and 115 All State in Girls track & field, coached 80 All State Boys and 58 All State girls in cross country, coached 12 All Americans in Boys track & field and 3 All Americans in girls track & field.

Philosophy of Athletics

Dave believes that athletics can be an important part of a student’s education by incorporating discipline, physical fitness, teamwork, & mental health into the life of the student. It is a strong way of instilling self-discipline and actually has shown to improve a student's academic performance. Cross Country is a great sport to achieve all these things and there are no bench warmers in cross country; everybody is a starter.

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