IHSAA Awards

Honors for educators who make great contributions, often behind the scenes, to activity and athletic programs which benefit students, coaches, teachers, and communities. The IHSAA's annual Administrator Awards will be presented at halftime of the Class 2A championship game. Presentations in 2021 are for awards selected in 2020, whose ceremonies were canceled due to COVID-19 related spectator restrictions on March 13, 2020.

AWARDS

IHSAA School Administrator Awards

MIKE HALUSKA: An active student-athlete graduating from Albia in 1973, Haluska spent more than 40 years in education before retiring last summer. A teacher and coach starting at Don Bosco, Gilbertville (1977-89), he became principal at Greene (1989-93), then superintendent at Clarksville (1993-96), Jefferson-Scranton (1996-2007), and Decorah (2007-19). Haluska oversaw high-ranking developments at Decorah, including a school and facilities renovation, and helped create college and vocational course opportunities at Jefferson-Scranton. He and his wife Connie have four daughters - Angie, Pam, Liz, and Becky - and six grandchildren.

MIKE WINKER: A graduate and football player from Cedar Rapids, Regis, Winker oversaw the athletic programs (1993-98) at his alma mater before becoming the long-serving and highly successful activities director (1998-2016) at Xavier, Cedar Rapids. A teacher and football coach at Regis, his move to Xavier saw 30 state championships in nine different sports, along with a 2016 honor from the IHSSA as Fine Arts Administrator of the Year. Winker has worked at the University of Iowa since 2016 as a lecturer in the Sport and Recreation Management program. He and his wife Julie have been married for 25 years and have two children: daughter Grace, and son Luke.

LARRY LYLE, Keota: Larry Lyle of Keota is the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Character Counts Coach of the Year. His selection was made by a panel from nominations submitted by member schools of the IHSAA.

Larry is a graduate of Keota High School in 1969, where he was a four-sport letter winner and student council president. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1973 with a degree in Physical Education and Health before returning home to work on the farm. He married his wife, Kris, and together they had four children: Zach, Caleb, Elysha, and Mariah.

Larry started his coaching career volunteering as an elementary and summer camp coach. As his children grew older, he become more involved in the Keota athletic department.

He has coached at every level in the community from youth leagues through the high school programs. Larry served as the assistant baseball coach for 4 years, with one state appearance, before taking over the program as head coach for 6 years.

In 2003, Larry began coaching high school boys track leading his team to a SICL conference title and multiple state appearances. He was awarded the 2005 IATC SE Region Coach of the Year. Larry has also served as the assistant boys’ basketball coach for 19 years. Alongside head coach Dan Stout, their teams have won 6 SICL Conference titles and 4th place in the 1A state tournament. He also received the 2013 Roushar-Evans Award from the IABC for the SE District.

In describing Coach Lyle, one nominator said: “He is the most understanding and patient coach who takes the time to know his players on and off the floor. He recognizes that students participate in more than just sporting activities and he encourages them in all areas of school events.”

When he’s not coaching, Larry enjoys farming, running, and spending time with his family.