Vote now for The News Tribune’s 2025-26 high school girls team coach of the year
Vote now for The News Tribune’s high school girls team coach of the year across all seasons from the 2025-26 school year in the South Sound. Voting will remain open until noon Monday, June 29.
The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
Note: If you are not seeing the poll at the bottom of the story, try opening the story in a different browser, such as Chrome or Safari. Votes emailed will not be counted.
Michael Brooks, Kennedy Catholic basketball — Directed No. 11 Kennedy Catholic’s run to the Class 4A state semifinals, knocking off No. 6 Lake Washington for the third-place trophy at the Tacoma Dome last winter. Lancers (22-8) knocked off No. 11 Redmond, No. 3 Chiawana, No. 5 Gonzaga Prep, and Lake Washington in the tournament bracket.
Camryn Buell, Curtis volleyball — In her first year at the helm, Buell guided the defending state-champion Vikings back to the title game and finished runner-up in Yakima last fall. Curtis (25-3) swept Camas for the 4A District 3/4 title last November and took down Mount Si, Olympia, and Wenatchee in the state bracket.
Chris Gibson, White River basketball — Guided the perennial-heavyweight Hornets back to the Class 3A quarterfinals, rallying for a fourth-place finish at the Tacoma Dome last March. White River (22-7) knocked off 4A-Olympia in their season opener last Dec. 1 and stacked wins over Enumclaw, North Thurston and Evergreen.
Alyssa Hurt, Tahoma soccer — Coached the No. 2 Bears to the Class 4A state championship, finishing runner-up at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup last November. Tahoma (20-2-1) won 19 straight matches (Sep. 16 to Nov. 21) and captured 4A NPSL and 4A District 3/4 titles.
Katie Hyppa, Sumner basketball — Directed the Spartans to consecutive Class 4A state championship games and runner-up finishes in 2025-26. TNT All-Area girls basketball coach of the year helped Sumner (27-5) to a sixth-straight 4A SPSL title at Tacoma Community College last February before collecting state wins over No. 2 Union and No. 6 Lake Washington.
Shalls Jacome, Lincoln flag football — Guided the Abes to the state’s inaugural Class 3A flag football title, outlasting Seattle Prep in the championship game, 21-14, at Federal Way High School last February.
Jackie Meyer, North Thurston volleyball — Guided the Rams to their first state title in program history, rolling through the Class 3A bracket as the No. 1 seed. North Thurston (28-1) claimed 3A PSL and 3A District 3 titles, dropping one total set across four state tournament matches.
Alex Montgomery, Annie Wright basketball — Coached the Gators into the state tournament for the program’s seventh consecutive season, grabbing the fourth-place trophy in Yakima last winter. Annie Wright (21-7) claimed an undefeated 1A Nisqually title and took down Bellevue Christian, 44-31, in the 1A District 3 championship game on February 20.
Robyn Saathoff, Gig Harbor soccer — Coached the Tides to the Class 3A state quarterfinals after claiming undefeated 3A PSL and 3A District 3 titles. Gig Harbor swept a three-game season series with rival Peninsula and blanked Central Kitsap, 1-0, in the district championship last Nov. 8.
Jamie Thomas, Graham-Kapowsin softball — Directed the Eagles to the Class 4A state championship game, finishing runner-up in the tournament bracket in Richland last month. Graham-Kapowsin (27-2) won an undefeated 4A SPSL title and blew past Juanita, Tahoma, and Richland as the state tournament’s No. 1 seed.
