Iona Stookey
The head coach of the Huntley Project Volleyball Team has won the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Coach of the Year award. Stookey has served as the head volleyball coach for Huntley Project for the past 36 years and has racked up an impressive 962/177 varsity win/loss record. To exceed this impressive feat, Iona has also led her teams to 15 state titles and 5 runners-up titles. Stookey has also, with her incredible records, been awarded a score of things including being named the MCA Coach of the Year 14 times and inducted into the MCA Hall of Fame in 2017. Her awards are not just statewide, but nationwide with Iona being named a NFHS National Volleyball Coach of the Year and NHSACA Coach of the Year finalist five times.
Now, Iona Stookey has finally won the NHSACA Coach of the Year award. Stookey was chosen from a group of eight other volleyball coaches around the nation. After being awarded Coach of the Year, Stookey posted a statement commenting on this honor.
“Such an amazing honor to be selected as the NHSACA National Volleyball Coach of the Year. It was an unbelievable experience and full of emotions. It was definitely one of the best moments of my life,” she said. “I was nervous, excited, and in awe all at the same time. I was able to sit with, speak with, and just hang out with all the other finalists, too. We just got each other, and you would have thought we had been friends forever. I want to thank my family for allowing me to do what I love. My daughter Keera Stookey for being my biggest fan. Huntley Project School for their support. To my volleyball girls, a special thank you to all of you for letting me be part of your lives and watch you grow through my program. I love you all so very much! To the parents and families, you are all very special to me. To all of my friends, family and colleagues, thanks for the wonderful messages, they mean so much.”
