The National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) has recognized Bellarmine College Prep’s Michelle Toy as State Coach of the Year in California for Regions 4-5.
Coach Toy, who began her position at Bellarmine in 2012, received endorsements for the honor from both Mr. Chris Meyercord, Bellarmine’s president, and from Mr. Patrick McCrystle, teacher and head coach of Bellarmine’s track and field and cross country programs.
Per the organization, the National High School Strength Coaches Association exists to “educate, equip, and empower coaches to make a lasting impact on the lives of student-athletes” and is “committed to developing coaches that are trustworthy, knowledgeable, effective, passionate, and transformational.”
Those attributes are certainly evident in Coach Toy’s passion for health and fitness and her positive, enthusiastic spirit. “She has taken the position of strength and conditioning coach and turned it into a school-wide position with far-reaching positive effects for our whole 1,650-person student body,” noted Mr. McCrystle in his letter of recommendation to the NHSSCA on behalf of Coach Toy. This sentiment is echoed by Mr. Meyercord in his letter of recommendation. “She fosters an atmosphere in the weight room that makes it a desired destination for people to go,” he wrote, adding that “They know they’ll be in a positive, encouraging environment where everyone treats the facility and one another with respect and motivates one another to get more fit.”
“The moment I was nominated for State Coach of the Year for California, I felt incredibly seen,” Coach Toy reflected recently. “As a woman in a male dominated industry, I often feel women get overlooked, so this nomination and selection was very validating! As a kid I competed in sports year-round and knew I wanted my career to be sports-related as well. So, to be recognized just 11 years into my career for something that I am so passionate about is surreal.”
Coach Toy will receive the award in June at a recognition dinner in Chicago during the NHSSCA National Conference.