Greg Adkins, head coach of the Glacier High School speech and debate team has been a finalist for the Anne Sullivan AA Coach of the Year Award more than ten times.

Although he did not win this year, Adkins has now led eleven teams to state titles, a mark that ties him with Anne Sullivan, whom the AA Coach of the Year award was renamed for after her retirement in 2003.

Adkins also caps the season off as the first Montana coach to lead two different high schools to state championships.

This season, Adkins led the Glacier team to its second consecutive state championship title in January. Before coaching at Glacier, Adkins coached the Flathead High School speech and debate team to nine state titles.

Coaching peers across Montana nominated candidates and the three with the most votes became finalists.

“I am honored to be a finalist. Being nominated is definitely an acknowledgment of our program at Glacier High and a recognition of our tremendous coaches and our students,” Adkins said.

It was Kandi Stone, assistant coach at C.M. Russell High in Great Falls, who took home the award. The other Coach of the Year finalist was Libby Brunnell Oliver, head coach at Missoula Sentinel High School.

The coaches were recognized Montana Forensic Educators Association Spring Conference in Bozeman Friday.

Adkins previously won the Anne Sullivan AA Coach of the Year Award in 1995 and 1997.