Vote for the 2024-25 Akron-Area High School Boys Coach of the Year

With the Akron-area OHSAA 2024-25 sports season complete, we're going to spend the next several months looking back at the best of high school sports during the school year.

Your votes will determine the Akron-Area Best of the School Year for teams, coaches and athletes.

This week we want to know who you think was the best high school boys coach for the 2024-25 school year. Each coach's credentials are listed above the poll — which will be live until 5 p.m. July 10. The winners will be announced in the morning July 11 on BeaconJournal.com.

Now, let's meet the candidates, who were selected by the Beacon Journal sports staff.

Here's a look at the nominees for the Akron-Area Boys Coach of the Year, in alphabetical order: 

Nick Alexander, Walsh Jesuit football

Alexander guided Walsh to a 10-0 regular season and a 13-1 overall record after making an appearance in the Division II, Region 5 final. This was Walsh's first undefeated regular season in football since 1998.

Joe Bowers, Walsh Jesuit baseball

Walsh made a Division II state semifinal appearance with Bowers in the dugout. Walsh won a regional title and then lost 1-0 in a state semifinal to eventual state champion Whitehouse Anthony Wayne.

Tony Catanzarite, Walsh Jesuit soccer

Catanzarite led Walsh to a Division II regional title and state runner-up finish, losing 5-3 on penalty kicks to New Albany in the championship game

Rob Fernandez, Nordonia volleyball

Fernandez guided Nordonia to a Division II regional championship and state semifinal appearance before losing to eventual runner-up Mount Vernon.

Jeff Howard, Woodridge cross country

Howard led Woodridge to a third-place finish at the Division II state meet, with six of seven runners recording personal best times.

Logan Jennings, St. Vincent-St. Mary volleyball

Jennings guided STVM to a Division II regional championship and state semifinal appearance before losing to eventual champion Cincinnati McNicholas.

Michael Lally, Twinsburg soccer

Lally led Twinsburg to a Division III regional title and state runner-up finish, losing 1-0 to Cincinnati Indian Hill in the championship game.

Quinn Parker, Hoban golf

Hoban won the Division I state championship with the individual state medalist Chris Pollak under Parker's tutelage.

Tim Tyrrell, Hoban football

Tyrrell guided Hoban to a 12-3 overall record and a Division II, Region 5 championship. Hoban lost 35-10 in a state semifinal to eventual state champion Avon.

Others considered: Archbishop Hoban basketball coach T.K. Griffith, Buchtel basketball coach Rayshon Dent, CVCA baseball coach Jason Herblet, Firestone volleyball coach Stacey McMillan-Myers, Highland football coach Mike Gibbons and Hudson golf Matt Villenauve.

A look at the 2024-25 Akron-Area High School Teams, Athletes and Coaches of the Year winners

• Date - girls winner | boys winner
• June 20 - Girls Team of the Year: Walsh Jesuit soccer
• June 27 - Boys Team of the Year: St. Vincent-St. Mary volleyball
• July 4 - Girls Coach of the Year: Bill Zufall III, Highland soccer

Editor's note: Winners of the Akron-Area Athlete of the Week in the spring are not eligible to win it again until the fall sports season begins. Coaches and athletic directors: Submit nominees for Akron-Area High School Athlete of the Week at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron-Area Boys Coach of the Year for 2024-25, vote now