Golf: Larry Ries named as National Coach of the Year
Larry Ries has been selected as the 2010 National Federation of State High School Coaches Association Boys Golf Coach of the Year.
In addition to this, Ries was also named the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association 2010 Boys Golf Coach of the Year. He will receive both awards at the NJISAA’s annual ceremony in March 2011.
Ries, who will start his 30th season as golf coach at Hunterdon Central, was bestowed with the honours for his commitment with the sport.
Ries will be the first coach at the Flemington School to receive such accolades.
The coach was very happy with his achievement. He said, “It feels great to win the award, and it's quite an honour. The award takes into account not only what I did last year but my coaching career the last 25 years.”
Ries started his career as a coach for soccer and served 29 years in the field. He retired in 2007 and took up basketball and baseball. Few years back, he began coaching golf squads and remained successful in it. In 2010, he led a team which topped the rankings
in the county and bagged the title of ‘The Star-Ledger's Team of the Year.’
The team got the title for their unmatchable victories. They won the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions, Group 4 crown, Central-South Jersey Group 4, Skyland Conference, Hunterdon County and Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament championships. Their win loss ratio
stood at 16 games to 1.
When asked about his coaching, Ries commented, “I guess I've been successful coaching in all sports because I put a lot of effort into it. I am into teaching the basics first. Some kids want to run at the start. First, you have to crawl, walk, and then run.
You have to know what each kid can do and keep them within themselves. My players take professional lessons, so, if I see a kid with a hitch in his swing, I will tell him to go to his pro. I enjoy kids and helping them.”
Ries has been saluted for his utmost commitment and dedication for the sport that is labelled as the elite’s game. Apart from coaching, Ries has been involved in players’ selection at county and national level. He has been part of several community welfare
projects, whose purpose has been promotion of the sports in the region.
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