Peters Township boys golf coach David Kuhn receives NFHS Coach of the Year award

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Thursday, January 16, 2025 | 11:22 PM


Peters Township boys golf coach David Kuhn, a six-time WPIAL champion in his 25 seasons, has received a national coach of the year award for the 2023-24 school year.

The National Federation of State High School Associations honored 24 coaches nationally, one apiece from a variety of boys and girls sports. Kuhn was the only coach from Pennsylvania to receive an NFHS award this year.

Kuhn’s teams have won more than 400 matches, posted seven undefeated seasons and celebrated a state title in 2023. The PIAA in October selected Kuhn as its state coach of the year for boys golf, making him eligible for the NFHS award.

Under Kuhn’s guidance, the Peters Township boys won WPIAL team titles in 2023, ‘15, ‘14, ‘10, ‘08 and ’04.

The Indians’ Colton Lusk won the WPIAL Class 3A individual title last fall and became the second Peters Township golfer to do so. Hunter Bruce won the WPIAL title in 2015.

Kuhn works as a teaching professional, oversees a junior golf program and serves as chairman of the WPIAL golf steering committee. A Mt. Pleasant native, Kuhn and his wife, Barbara, reside in McMurray.

“Kuhn’s coaching philosophy revolves around Performance, Academics, and Responsibility (P.A.R.), with a goal of developing high-performing athletes and motivating students to be their best,” the high school said in email announcing Kuhn’s award. “Cornerstones of his program include both accountability and personal discipline on and off the course.”

The NFHS has honored coaches since 1982.

The association selects coaches from the top 10 boys and girls sports determined by participation. The NFHS also chooses two additional coaches in sports not among those 10, plus a spirit coach and a coach for Adapted/Allied/Unified sports.

Boys sports

Sport, coach, high school

Baseball, Timothy Vinson, Iberia, Mo.

Basketball, Mike Hilmer, North Linn (Troy Mills), Iowa

Cross country, Kevin Hopp, Stevens Point, Wisc.

Football, Tiger LaVerde, Kirtland, Ohio

Golf, David Kuhn, Peters Township

Soccer, Tim Beck, Ironwood (Glendale), Ariz.

Swimming and diving, Dusty Thomas, Boaz, Ala.

Tennis, Terry Swopes, Ada, Okla.

Track and field, Ernie Brooks, Crook County (Prineville), Ore.

Wrestling, Maurice Atwood, Eastern Guilford (Gibsonville), N.C.

Girls sports

Sport, coach, high school

Basketball, Brian Ebert, Frankfort, Kan.

Cross country, Terrence Krall, Slinger, Wisc.

Golf, Eric Sanders, Red River (Grand Forks), N.D.

Lacrosse, Cathie Connors, Waynflete School (Portland), Maine

Soccer, Barb Chura, Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), Ariz.

Softball, Kyle Peacocke, Jackson (Mill Creek), Wash.

Swimming and diving, Lia Kunnapas, Immaculate Heart (Washington), N.J.

Tennis, Natalie Meyer, Brighton Heights (Cottonwood Heights), Utah

Track and field, Chris White, Seneca, S.C.

Volleyball, Julie Gordon, Montgomery Academy, Ala.

Other sports

Sport, coach, high school

Spirit, Megan Wesolowski, Mount Sinai, N.Y.

Adapted/Allied/Unified, Mike O’Brien, Tuscarora (Frederick), Md.

Boys ice hockey, Frank Colabufo, West Genesee (Camillus), N.Y.

Girls field hockey, Eileen Donahue, Watertown, Mass.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

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