Freeport’s Phillips, SV’s Williams, Knoch’s Conlon among PIAA Coaches of Year
Tom Phillips capped a memorable year. George Williams had a near-perfect one. Nance Conlon went out on top.
Each of these coaches comes from a different sport at different Butler County high schools, but they share a common bond: PIAA Coach of the Year for the 2022-23 school year in their respective activity.
The National Federation of State High Schools Association names a Coach of the Year for each varsity sport in each state. There were 24 coaches who received such honors for 2022-23, including Freeport girls volleyball coach Tom Phillips, Seneca Valley boys soccer coach George Williams and Knoch girls tennis coach Nance Conlon.
All three sports are played in the fall.
“For a county our size to do something like this, and factor in the success of Mars girls and boys soccer, too ... It’s very impressive,” Williams said.
“It’s an amazing honor, very humbling ... first time I’ve ever won this,” Phillips said.
Conlon stepped down as the Knights’ coach after the 2022 season. Her team won the WPIAL and PIAA championships, facing Sewickley Academy for the seventh consecutive year in postseason play. Knoch defeated Sewickley Academy, 4-1, in the state finals a year ago.
Seneca Valley’s boys soccer team finished last year with a 22-1-1 overall record. The Raiders’ lone loss was a 1-0 decision to Pine-Richland in the WPIAL title game. Seneca Valley rebounded to outscore the opposition 18-3 in four state tournament games, including a runaway 6-0 victory over Lower Merion in the state final.
“We draw kids from a wide area and there’s a lot of talent here,” Williams said. “We benefit from the youth soccer and club programs in the area, too.
Williams has Seneca Valley’s boys primed for a repeat this fall, taking a 13-0-3 record into the district playoffs next week. He’s been working with the same assistant coaches — Jay Roman and Scott Stewart — for a number of years. Williams was also named PIAA Coach of the Year in 2020.
He is in his 29th season as SV head coach.
“I coached Scott when he played here,” Williams said. “This is a tremendous honor, Coach of the Year. We won it as a team and program, not just me.”
Phillips’ Freeport volleyball program has been one of the best in the state for some time. The Yellowjackets won the state crown in 2022, defeating York Catholic 3-0 in the finals. Freeport has won seven WPIAL titles since 2010, 18 consecutive section crowns, and claimed the state championship in 2017 as well.
Over the summer, Phillips was inducted into the Armstrong County and Alle-Kiski Valley sports halls of fame for his volleyball prowess.
“That was a magical year for us,” Phillips said of 2022. “When I took this job 23 years ago, I insisted on coaching the middle school, too. That’s been the key to our success. We’ve been working with these girls since fifth or sixth grade.
“We just clinched our 19th straight section title (Thursday night). My philosophy has always been teach the girls how to win early, do things the right way, and much of your job is done.”
Conlon could not be reached for comment Thursday.
