Mankato West’s Crissy Makela and Don Krusemark Named Finalists for National High School Coach of the Year

The National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) has named Mankato West High School’s Crissy Makela and Don Krusemark as finalists for the 2025 National High School Coach of the Year. Makela is recognized in the sport of soccer, while Krusemark has been honored as a finalist in the sport of softball.

Both coaches are among just eight finalists nationwide in their respective sports and will be recognized at the National Coach of the Year Awards Banquet on June 25, 2025, at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. The banquet will culminate with the announcement of the NHSACA National Coach of the Year in 19 different sports categories.

Makela and Krusemark were nominated for this honor by their state’s high school coaches association. Finalists are selected based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors received, championship seasons, and winning percentage. A panel of coaching experts evaluates nominees using sport-specific rubrics to determine the National Coach of the Year in each category.

The NHSACA, the oldest coaches association in the nation, was established by coaches for coaches and has been recognizing the country’s top high school coaches since 1978.

Mankato Area Public Schools proudly celebrate Coach Makela and Coach Krusemark’s achievements and look forward to the awards banquet in June.