07/02/2026
There are moments in coaching that fill you with an incredible sense of pride, and this is certainly one of them.
It is with tremendous pride and heartfelt appreciation that I get to share some exciting news with our Brandon Valley Track & Field and Cross Country families.
Our very own Coach Tony Thoreson has been named the NHSACA (National High School Athletic Coaches Association) National Girls Assistant Coach of the Year!
What makes this recognition even more remarkable is that Tony was selected as the National Girls Assistant Coach of the Year across all high school sports—not just track & field or cross country. To be recognized on a national stage among assistant coaches from every sport in the United States is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to the impact Tony has made throughout his career.
Tony received his National Assistant Coach of the Year plaque during the NHSACA National Conference in Coralville Iowa, on the campus of the University of Iowa—a well-deserved honor for someone who has dedicated so much of his life to serving student-athletes.
The list of Tony's accomplishments is nothing short of incredible:
• 55 seasons as an assistant track & field and/or cross country coach.
• USTFCCCA Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year.
• Nine-time South Dakota Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year.
• Recipient of the prestigious Eastern South Dakota Conference Award of Merit.
• An invaluable part of three State Track & Field Championships and two State Cross Country Championships.
• Coach to countless All-Conference, All-State, and All-American athletes.
As impressive as those accomplishments are, they don't begin to tell the whole story.
Awards recognize success, but they don't measure the countless early mornings, late evenings, encouraging conversations, quiet acts of kindness or the unwavering belief Tony has shown in every athlete who has worn the Lynx uniform. They don't capture the relationships he has built over three decades, the positive influence he has had on generations of young people, or the respect he has earned from fellow coaches across South Dakota and around the country.
For those of us fortunate enough to coach alongside Tony, we know that his greatest legacy won't be found in trophies, championships, or plaques. It will be found in the lives he has changed, the confidence he has instilled in young people, and the friendships he has built that last far beyond the finish line.
Tony has been an incredible mentor, a trusted friend, and one of the finest coaches / people I have ever had the privilege to work alongside. Brandon Valley is better because of him, and I know I am a better coach because of his example.
Please join me in congratulating Brandon Valley's own Coach Tony Thoreson on this extraordinary and well-deserved national honor.
TONY, thank you for 55 seasons of selfless service, unwavering dedication, and the immeasurable impact you've made on our athletes, our coaching staff, and our community.
No one deserves this recognition more.
Congratulations, Tony! We couldn't be more proud.
Troy Sturgeon
Brandon Valley
Head TF Coach
