Our next selections for our post-season awards and final selections from the COVID-19-stricken 2021 high school basketball season include our selections for Coach of the Year (boys and girls) for the 2021 season. Our selections for this exciting annual award include our Coach of the Year. This honor is derived from our amazing coaches from the AIA and CAA High School programs. We have selected one overall award for this honor - boys and girls.
First of all, high school and prep school coaches across the state are to be honored entirely, as we applaud every high school, prep school or national high school coach for their amazing hard work and dedication to Arizona's student-athletes this past season (2021), as each of them put their individual and family's health on the line t=during this very challenging time during a pandemic. Each of you (boy's and girl's coaches) are to be sincerely commended on your efforts throughout the season. Each of you made it possible to have a high school season, and came up huge for our Arizona student-athletes, which would not have had a season all together without your dedication. Thank you!
With that said, our staff's selection for the Coach of the Year among high school boy's basketball programs in the state is Mesa High School's Head Coach Scott Stansberry. Stansberry and his coaching staff led Mesa High School to a terrific high school season in 2021, as Mesa finished with an impressive 16-2 overall record on the season in the state's very competitive 6A Division, and a strong 10-1 record in the 6A's East Valley Region. Mesa High School remained among the top overall high school programs in the state all season, before eventually falling to East Valley rival Mesa Mountain View High School (56-48) in the 6A State Playoffs.
This season was Coach Stansberry's second stint with the Jack Rabbits as their Head Coach, after he was an assistant at the program from 2011 - 2015. He became the Head Coach at Mesa HS during the 2018-2019 season.
Coach Stansberry's teams are very well disciplined and execute his system precisely. Coach Stansberry is an excellent motivator where he gets the most out of his kids - day in and day out.
"I am very passionate about the game of basketball," said Stansberry. "I love the game so much, that I continuously study to learn the most I can everyday about the game. Basketball was a positive outlet to me growing up, because I learned valuable life lessons, such as commitment, dedication, teamwork, time management, toughness, and the ability to handle adversity. I coach to give back to the kids and community, because the game of basketball has blessed me with so much,” said Coach Stansberry.
Coach Stansberry credits his team's success to the culture.
“It is about the culture that has led our program to be successful every year," said Stansberry. "Tradition never graduates and we have a great tradition established, thanks to the culture of our program and the community support."
Congratulations to Coach Stansberry from our Arizona Preps' staff on this honor, and an amazing season for the Mesa basketball program during a pandemic-stricken season.
