Two area coaches named best in the nation

By Terry Murry on Friday, January 20th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

INDIANAPOLIS – The National Federation of State High Schools Coaches’ Association has named 23 high school coaches as national coaches of the year for the 2021-22 season. One of those 23 is from Pendleton and the other is from Heppner.

Heppner High School football coach Greg Grant has a 330-76 record in his 41 years of coaching. Grant also serves as the school’s athletic director and has taken on assistant coaching duties for several other sports. He is ranked fourth on the all-time Oregon coaching victories list and has received numerous state and conference coach of the year awards.

Rhythmic Mode coach Debbie Kishpaugh’s dance teams won consecutive state championships from 2008 to 2013, and also took the top prize in 2001 at the state dance and drill championships. She has been honored as coach of the year twice, given a lifetime achievement award, and named Pendleton Citizen of the Year in 2010. She is the founder of the Oregon Junior Dance Team Championships, which have raised more than $115,000 in dance and academic scholarships.

The only other Oregonian to win a coach of the year award is Jesuit High School’s girls tennis coach, Kirsten Ruchaber. The NFHS receives nominations from its state members. The nominees then complete a coach profile form, making them eligible. In addition to the 23 national award winners, mor than 800 awards will be handed at sectional and state levels.