Who MSCI honours
Three rolls, and they answer different questions: a lifetime, a single school year, and a guest the President chooses. 64 Coach of the Year awards since 2012, and a Hall of Fame running unbroken since 1979.
A single year
Coach of the Year
An award in each area of speech activities, for one school year's work. Not every category is filled every year, and a dash means nobody was named.
Nominations close at 11:59 pm on the Wednesday following MIFA IE State Finals.
| Year | Forensic | Assistant | Debate | Theatre | Middle Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ForensicDan LaffertyLoy Norrix High School | AssistantJenna AlamatUAIS | DebateJohn LawsonW.E. Groves High School | TheatreNathan and Jackie CharneskiSt. Johns High School | Middle LevelMiranda MillerRoyal Oak Middle School |
| 2025 | ForensicKatarina MooreMason County Central High School | AssistantLaura MooreThe Roeper SchoolSteve TuitGrand Rapids Christian | Debate— | TheatreAmy JanzGrass Lake High School | Middle LevelSarah Scurti-ArgoBerkshire Middle School |
| 2024 | ForensicJohn RutherfordW. E. Groves High School | AssistantAlec OlweeanPortage Central High School | DebateDeb MarshDexter High School | TheatreHeather McKaigNovi High School | Middle LevelDan JacobsThe Roeper School |
| 2023 | ForensicBrian KarstenGrand Rapids Christian | AssistantChris PavlickoTroy High School | DebateChris KuhlmanUtica Academy for International Studies | TheatreDawn BatticeAnchor Bay High School | Middle LevelBen BellamyGreenhills |
| 2022 | ForensicChris KuhlmanUtica Academy for International Studies | AssistantWendy HoltBirch Run High School | DebateRyan NiermanW. E. Groves High School | TheatreJohn RutherfordW. E. Groves High School | Middle Level— |
| 2021 | ForensicTyler BaasPortage Central High School | AssistantKaghen MillerPortage Northern High School | DebateRuth KayDetroit Country Day School | TheatreLori DuncanHeritage High School | Middle Level— |
| 2019 | ForensicAmy JanzGrass Lake High School | AssistantNate RitsemaGrand Rapids City High School | Debate— | TheatreKirstin CarolinHenry Ford II High School | Middle LevelKen WeinsteinLeslie High School |
| 2018 | ForensicTom RichertMason County Central | AssistantAndrew BrockThe Roeper School | DebateLeanne SchmidtNotre Dame Prep | TheatreJackie CharneskiSt. Johns High School | Middle LevelMackenzie HagoodSaline Middle School |
| 2017 | ForensicJohn Rutherford and Hayley McKinneyW.E. Groves | AssistantPat CorcorranWalled Lake Western | DebateShelley VenemaSaline | Theatre— | Middle LevelAleks LuchinBirmingham Covington |
| 2016 | ForensicAmy UrbanowskiBirch Run | AssistantRick StevensNorth Branch | DebateSam BagenstosGreenhills | TheatreJohn RutherfordW.E. Groves | Middle LevelBarb EbelingGreenhills |
| 2015 | ForensicAshley BowenPortage Northern HS | AssistantAdam BlaylockBloomfield Hills HS | DebateJohn LawsonW.E. Groves HS | TheatreCeCe WeeksLoy Norrix HS | Middle LevelCourtney BassettCovington MS |
| 2014 | ForensicKathy TarDivine Child HS | AssistantRyan PartickaFlint Powers Catholic HS | DebateDebora MarshDexter High HS | TheatreBill LaphamBattle Creek Central HS | Middle LevelCindy StevensNorth Branch MS |
| 2013 | ForensicBecca WeissmanDetroit Country DayRuth KayDetroit Country Day | AssistantChris WessellPortage Northern HS | DebateChris KuhlmanUtica Academy for International Studies | Theatre— | Middle LevelTara HeywoodPortage North MS |
| 2012 | ForensicDanielle HarshAndover HS | Assistant— | DebateCraig HenniganWest Bloomfield HS | TheatreDawn BatticeAnchor Bay HS | Middle Level— |
| 2020 | ForensicNo Coach of the Year was named. The conference and both tournaments were cancelled. | ||||
A lifetime
The Hall of Fame
MSCI’s lifetime achievement award, judged on a coach’s experience, their success, and their service to the Michigan speech community. Coaches are nominated annually; the Executive Board reads every nomination and decides on merit.
Recipients are inducted at the Evening of Champions on the Friday of the Spring Conference. A plaque carrying every member since 1979 hangs in the lobby of the Grand Hotel.
- Time in service
- A minimum of 10 years coaching in the field
- A minimum of 7 years as a member of MSCI
- Success in coaching
- Significant success coaching speech, debate or theatre within Michigan — multiple state champions in any MIFA or MSCI state championship series event, or a substantial number of finalists across them
- Decades of individuals and teams scoring high at theatre, debate or individual event competitions
- Opportunities created for student success by building, continuing, fostering or revitalizing programs in Michigan
- Service to the community
- State-wide office held in MSCI, MIFA or a comparable state-wide organization
- Numerous speech, debate or theatre events hosted and directed in Michigan
- An environment fostered for mentorship, so programs continue after them
Nominations close January 31.
Recently inducted
- 2026Nancy FitzgeraldGrand Rapids Christian
- 2025Becca WeissmanBloomfield Hills High School
- 2024Tom RichertMason County Central High School
Only recent inductees are published. The full roll back to 1979 is on the plaque at the hotel.
The Hall of Fame plaque in the lobby of the Grand Hotel, and the year's inductees.
A guest
Guest of Honor
Chosen by the President, approved by the Board, and celebrated at a reception during the Spring Conference.
This year
Ken Weinstein
Leslie Public Schools
Three years as an assistant, then twenty as head coach of Leslie High School and Middle School. A decade on the MIFA IE Committee, six years on the Region 2 Middle School Committee, two as MSCI’s Class BCD representative. Middle School Coach of the Year in 2019, and into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
He deeply enjoyed helping students find their voice and develop as performers and public speakers.
Every guest on record
| Year | Honoree | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | HonoreeKen Weinstein | AffiliationLeslie Public Schools |
| 2025 | HonoreeDebora Marsh | AffiliationDexter High School |
| 2024 | HonoreeTheresa Mills | AffiliationPortage Central High School |
| 2023 | HonoreeBarb Ebeling | AffiliationGreenhills School |
| 2020 | HonoreeDave Bassett | AffiliationDakota High SchoolSelected for 2020 and celebrated in May 2022; the pandemic took the two years between. |
| 2019 | HonoreeThomas V. Lietz | AffiliationUtica High School |
| 2018 | HonoreeCarole Bennett | AffiliationOakland Community College |
| 2017 | HonoreeRay Quiel | AffiliationEastern Michigan University |
There is no 2021 or 2022 honoree of their own — the 2020 selection was carried forward and celebrated in May 2022. See the history for the rest of what the pandemic moved.