coachoftheyear

Adam Spiegleman Refugio High School

Refugio had won a record 10 state boys track and field championships going into the 2021-2022 school year.

But the Bobcats had not won a state title in track and field since 2001, and fans in a town that loves the sport were more than anxious to win another.

Refugio finished as the runner-up to Shiner in 2021, and firstyear head coach Adam Spiegleman’s was anxious to continue the success that Kent Hawthorne had started.

Refugio won the team title at every invitational meet except one and took home district, area and regional meet championships.

The Bobcats added their 11th state championship by winning the 2022 team title with 77 points.

Refugio won gold medals in the 400-meter and 800-meter relays and the 100-meter dash, and a silver medal in the 1,600-meter relay.

The Bobcats had competitors in eight events and scored points in seven of them.

Spiegleman, who has been at Refugio since 2017, also coaches football and basketball. He was an assistant when the Bobcats won the 2019 Class 2A, Division I state championship.

Jimmie Mitchell

Edna

High School

Jimmie Mitchell was determined to turn Edna into a regional and state contender when he took over as the school’s athletic director and head football coach in January 2020. Mitchell had more than two decades of coaching experience and a history of success at Sinton, Sealy, Beeville and Manor before coming to Edna.

Edna battled through the COVID-19 pandemic in the 20202021 school year before turning the corner in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.

The Cowboys advanced to the state semifinals in football, and the regional quarterfinals in basketball.

The Cowgirls advanced to the bi-district playoffs in volleyball and the area playoffs in basketball.

In addition, Edna was a regional finalist in cross country, sent powerlifters to the state powerlifting tournaments, had regional finalists in golf and state finalists in track and field.

Edna will be the favorite to repeat as District 15-3A, Division I champion, and is likely to go into the 2023 football season ranked in the top 10 in the state.