This month, FCHS Coach Christi Garrett was named Virginia’s Coach of the Year for Volleyball.  Every year, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) recognizes coaches through an awards program.  Since 1982, NFHS has been choosing 10 coaches from girls’ sports and 10 coaches from boys’ sports annually to receive this award.  The 10 sports for girls are track and field, basketball, volleyball, soccer, softball, cross country, tennis, swimming and diving, and golf.  The 10 boys’ sports are football, track and field, basketball, baseball, soccer, wrestling, cross country, tennis, golf, and swimming and diving.  There are around 515 coaches recognized by NFHS each year.

Garrett has been coaching for 16 years and has won other awards such as Conference, Central VA, and Jefferson District, but this is her first time being Virginia’s Coach of the Year.

Not only was Garrett chosen to be the Coach of the Year for Virginia, but several weeks ago Athletic Director Scott Morris told her that she was also selected for Coach of the Year out of the whole Mideast section.  “Coach Garrett has worked hard to get to this point.  She puts all her energy and time into making her players better each year and is well-deserving for this recognition and award,” said Morris.

Garrett said that she was surprised.  “It’s an honor to just be Coach of the state, but to be Coach of the Year out of the whole region against so many other good coaches is such a huge honor,” said Garrett.