(Top West Virginia high school coach)
The Van Meter Award, the High School Coach of the Year Award until 2016, is named for Woodrow Wilson boys basketball and football coach Jerome Van Meter, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 102. Van Meter won 869 games combined as basketball and football coach. The recipient is voted on by the WVSWA and the award is given to the state’s top high school coach.
2023 – John Lilly, Independence (football)
2022 – Kevin Gertz, Logan (baseball, girls basketball)
2021 – Shaun Smith, Parkersburg South (wrestling)
2020 – Missy Smith, Herbert Hoover (softball), George Washington (volleyball)
2019 – Michael Gray, Webster County (boys basketball)
2018 – Brad Napier, Chapmanville (boys basketball)
2017 – Dave Walker, Martinsburg (football)
2016 – Dave Tallman, Morgantown (boys basketball) and John Lowery, Jefferson (baseball)
2015 – Allen Osborne, Poca (boys basketball)
2014 – Dave Walker, Martinsburg (football)
2013 – Shannon Lewis, St. Joseph (girls basketball)
2012 – Paul Jackson, Parkersburg South (wrestling)
2011 – Dave Walker, Martinsburg (football)
2010 – Wayne Ryan, Summers County (girls basketball)
2009 – Mick Price, Ravenswood (boys basketball)
2008 – Ron Kidd, Woodrow Wilson (boys basketball)
2007 – Bernie Buttrey, Parkersburg (football)
2006 – John Bowers, Morgantown (football)
2005 – Jim Thomas, Wheeling Central (football)
2004 – Bob Lemley, Poca (football)
2003 – Annette Olenchick, Sissonville (softball)
2002 – Larry Shaw, Oak Glen (wrestling)
2001 – Carl Clark, Capital (boys basketball)
2000 – Marshall Burdette, Parkersburg (football)
1999 – Alan Fiddler, Moorefield (football)
1998 – David Kyle, Tucker County (girls basketball)
1997 – David Kyle, Tucker County (girls basketball)
1996 – John O’Neal, Mercer Christian (girls basketball)
1995 – Bryce Casto, South Charleston (football)
1994 – Dave Rogers, Martinsburg (boys basketball)
1993 – Dave Barksdale, Woodrow Wilson (boys basketball)
1992 – Jim Hamric, Spencer (football)
1991 – Paul “Bud” Billiard, Brooke (football)
1990 – Roger Jefferson, Capital (football)
1989 – Jim Lilly, Oak Hill (boys basketball)
1988 – Paul “Bud” Billiard, Brooke (football)
1987 – Bob Burton, Paden City (boys basketball)
1986 – Lou Nocida, Sistersville (football)
1985 – Don Stover, Stonewall Jackson (boys basketball)
1984 – Jim Lilly, Oak Hill (boys basketball)
1983 – Willie Akers, Logan (boys basketball)
1982 – Lou Nocida, Sistersville (football)
1981 – Roy Michael, North Marion (football)
1980 – Wayne Jamison, Bridgeport (football)
1979 – Jennings Boyd, Northfork (boys basketball)
1978 – Pete Culicerto, Woodrow Wilson (football/track)
1977 – Jennings Boyd, Northfork (boys basketball)
1976 – Jennings Boyd, Northfork (boys basketball)
1975 – Tex Williams, St. Albans (boys basketball)
1974 – Don Arthur, East Bank (football)
1973 – Wayne Jamison, Bridgeport (football)
1972 – Al Morgan, Greenbrier East (boys basketball)
1971 – Frank Vincent, Charleston (football)
1970 – Frank Vincent, Charleston (football)
1969 – Earl Keener, Monongah (football)
1968 – Carl Ward, Ceredo-Kenova (football)
1967 – Joe Michael, Buckhannon (football)
1966 – Merrill Gainer, Bluefield (football)
1965 – Roy Williams, East Bank (football)
1964 – Granville Zopp, Buckhannon (football)
1963 – Merrill Gainer, Bluefield (football)
1962 – Bob Sullivan, Magnolia (all sports)
1961 – Sam Mandich, Parkersburg (boys basketball)
1960 – Merrill Gainer, Bluefield (football)
1959 – Burdell Carey, Weir (football)
1958 – Stan Romanoski, Dunbar (boys track)
1957 – Sam LeRose, St. Albans (football)
1956 – Lewis D’Antoni, Mullens (boys basketball)
(combined high school/college coach of the year, 1944-55)
1952 – Jerome Van Meter, Woodrow Wilson (boys basketball)
1951 – Jerome Van Meter, Woodrow Wilson (football)
1950 – Carl Hamill, Weir (football)
1948 – Jerome Van Meter, Woodrow Wilson (football)
1946 – (tie) Forest Underwood, Huntington East (boys basketball)
Homer Fizer, University (football)
1945 – Bill Weber, South Charleston (all sports)
1944 – Bill Weber, South Charleston (football)
1943 – Jimmy Scott, Parkersburg (football)