Queen Creek High School’s Shaun Hardt has been named the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Girls Track & Field National Coach of the Year for 2022-23. Hardt beat out seven other finalists representing girls track & field programs from around the country for this honor.

“I can’t imagine life without coaching and serving others,” Hardt said. “I love the communities in which I served. I especially love Queen Creek and the students, athletes, community, and people I have served here. Even now that I can retire, I just can’t leave because there is always some needy kid or athlete to coach and help break records or change their life, that I really don’t know if I can give it up.”

In his 21 years at the helm of Queen Creek track & field program, he has coached more than 240 meets and his teams have placed in the top three 95% of the time. He also serves as boys track & field and cross country coach. Hardt’s teams have won 120 invitationals and finished second 73 times. He has led Queen Creek girls track teams to three state championships, one second-place finish and four third-place finishes. On the boys side, he has led the Bulldogs to three state runner-up and three third-place finishes. Hardt has also coached basketball, football and baseball at the school, and was named the 2001 3A East Region Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

“Athletics is not just about competition and winning but a journey that shapes one’s character, fostering qualities that extend well beyond the playing field, and empowering individuals to become better versions of themselves,” Hardt added.

Shaun Hardt with his 2022-23 state runner-up team. (Chris Driving Hawk photo/QCHS Athletics)

The NFHS, which has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982, honors coaches in the top 10 girls sports and top 10 boys sports (by participation numbers), and in two “other” sports – one for boys and one for girls – that are not included in the top 10 listings. The NFHS also recognizes a spirit coach as a separate award category. Winners of NFHS awards must be active coaches during the year for which they receive their award.

The NFHS Coaches Association has an advisory committee composed of a chair and eight sectional representatives. The sectional committee representatives evaluate the state award recipients from the states in their respective sections and select the best candidates for the sectional award in each sport category. The NFHS Coaches Association Advisory Committee then considers the sectional candidates in each sport, ranks them according to a point system, and determines a national winner for each of the 20 sport categories, the spirit category and two “other” categories.

Arizona also had five other Section 7 winners from 2022-23 that were finalists for national coach of the year. They are Jerry Behm (Chino Valley, boys golf), Mike Maczuga (Phoenix Country Day, boys swimming & diving), Eric Palmer (Deer Valley, boys other-volleyball), Cyndi Cubillas (Sabino, softball), and Jackie walker (Hamilton, girls golf).

Hardt becomes the 12th national coach of the year from Arizona since the 2016-17 school year, and the second consecutive national winner in the sport. The others are:

Karen Self, Seton Catholic, girls basketball (2016-17)
Kristie Stevens, Xavier Prep, girls tennis (2016-17)
Valorie McKenzie, Horizon, girls volleyball (2018-19)
Dave Van Sickle, Xavier Prep, girls cross country (2018-19)
Cherry Roberds, Miami, girls tennis (2018-19)
Lois Emshoff, Chandler, girls other-badminton (2018-19)
Steve Kanner, Hamilton, boys golf (2019-20)
Ed McQuade, Boulder Creek/Greenway, softball (2020-21)
Greg Haagsma, Valley Christian, boys basketball (2021-22)
Rickey Baker, Hopi, boys cross country (2021-22)
Sue Hysong, Westview, girls track & field (2021-22)

For a complete list of the national winners click here to view the NFHS press release.