STEVENS POINT, Wis. — Jerry Petitgoue, head boys basketball coach at Cuba City High School, and Michael Rose, head girls swimming and diving coach at Brookfield East High School were two of 23 high school coaches from across the country selected as 2020 National Coaches of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Petitgoue, in his 50th year as coach at Cuba City, led the Cubans to a 25-0 record in 2019-20 before the Tournament Series was canceled to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Entering this year, he has led Cuba City to three State championships, in 1981, 1991 and 1998. Following the 2019-20 season, he had compiled a 963-256 record, making him the winningest Wisconsin high school basketball coach in history.
In addition to his basketball coaching duties, Petitgoue taught for 38 years at Cuba City and served as athletic director from 1997-2005. He has also served as executive director of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association for 25 years.
Rose has served as the Patriots girls varsity head coach since 1985, and he served the dual role as boys head coach from 1983 to 1997. He led the boys program to a WIAA State Division 2 title in 1996, and has won back-to-back State titles with the girls program in 2019 and 2020. In addition, Rose has guided the development of four State girls relay champions and five State individual girls champions that have amassed 23 titles, as well as 13 boys State individual titles and four championship relays.
He has coached 44 individuals and 11 relays to All-American status throughout his coaching career. Furthermore, he has coached seven individuals that have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Among the numerous awards he has received include Wisconsin Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors with his boys teams in 1991 and 1992, and with the girls in 2020. He was also selected as the Impact Award recipient at Brookfield East High School in 2015.
Additional leadership roles in swimming and diving include a stint as president of the WISCA from 1990-95 and as treasurer from 1986-89. He is also a member of the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association and the National Council of Mathematics Teachers.
Five other Wisconsin coaches were recognized as Section 4 Coaches of the Year, including Tim Moore of Lourdes Academy for girls cross country, Matt Cranston of River Falls for girls hockey, Brett Ogorzalek of McFarland for boys soccer, Dave Lindow of East Troy for boys tennis and Matt Verbeten of Wrightstown for wrestling.
The NFHS has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982, honoring coaches in the top 10 boys and girls sports by participation numbers and in two other sports – one for boys and one for girls.
Winners of NFHS awards must be active coaches during the year for which they receive their award. This year’s awards recognize coaches for the 2019-20 school year. The selections are based on a coach’s record, membership in and affiliation with coaching and other professional organizations, involvement with other school and community activities and programs, and coaching philosophy.
The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 515 senior high schools and 48 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.
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