Stonington Legend Earns National Coach of the Year Award

STONINGTON, CT — Longtime coach George Crouse of Stonington High School has been named National High School Girls Tennis Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA).

Crouse hit a couple of huge milestones during the 2019 spring season. Not only did he pick up his 500th career win as the head coach of the Stonington girls team, but he also captured his 800th victory as the head coach of girls’ and boys’ teams.

Crouse’s record with the girls team stands at 510-106 after a 15-2 season that saw his Bears advance to the Connecticut Class S state quarterfinals. His record with the boys team was 304-114 from 1974-2000.

This season, Crouse’s squad shared the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division championship. Coming into the season, the Lady Bears had won five straight titles and 13 of the last 14 championships.

In 2013, Crouse, who has won numerous Coach of the Year awards, led Stonington to its first-ever girls tennis state championship.

“We are extremely pleased to honor Coach Crouse,” said Eric Hess, Executive Director of the NHSCA. “He has established Stonington as the best in girls’ tennis in Connecticut. He exhibits a strong dedication to supporting and developing his high school student-athletes in the classroom and outside of it.”

Crouse is the first Connecticut coach to be named the NHSCA National Girls Tennis Coach of the Year.

This marks the 20th consecutive year the NHSCA has honored achievers within the high school athletic community nationwide with its Coach of the Year Awards in 20 boys’ and girls’ sports. Each of the honorees will receive a beautiful plaque. In addition, the Coach of the Year honoree will be displayed in the National High School Digital Sports Hall of Fame that is currently under development.

Story by Mattie Potter/NHSCA