JEFF CARROW, SOUTHSIDE

Southside coach Jeff Carrow has done a lot to make the Seahawks the most consistent football team in Beaufort County. They played in their second-consecutive regional-championship game this past winter, but, again, fell short in a one-possession loss to Plymouth. Carrow also helped out with the baseball and track teams in the spring.

 

JIM KOZUCH, WASHINGTON

Jim Kozuch has made Washington soccer a perennial contender. The Pam Pack, after playing for a 2-A state championship in 2015, made it to the fourth round this past fall. It did so despite the loss of top-notch players in Kyle Hodges and Freddy Jimenez. In the spring, the Kozuch-led Washington golf team won its third 2-A eastern regional championship in a row.

 

KEITH BOYD, NORTHSIDE

Talent, hard work and tireless work from coach Keith Boyd resulted in Northside’s best football season in around a decade. The Panthers made earned a postseason berth and throttled Rocky Mount Prep in their first-round win. The fall ended shorty thereafter, though, in a 16-14 loss to North Edgecombe. In the spring, Boyd led Northside to a second-place finish in the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference and into the third round of the playoffs.

 

RALPH BIGGS, WASHINGTON

Washington’s girls’ basketball team went into this past winter with high expectations. Head coach Ralph Biggs won 2-A Eastern Plains Conference coach of the year in his first season a year ago. He led the Lady Pack to a 14-12 finish. Midway through the basketball season, he also stepped in and filled a coaching void for the boys. He found an incredible degree of success for balancing both squads.

 

ANDREA QUINERLY, SOUTHSIDE

Southside’s football team lost many key players on offense from 2015. With leading linebacker Hunter Sparks and others back on defense, it was defensive coordinator Andrea Quinerly’s unit that helped the Seahawks in not missing a beat. They gave up 14.2 points per game. His track and field squads also sent over 20 athletes to the 1-A state championships. Eminey Redmond won the championship in the long jump, and the 4-by-200 girls’ relay team placed third.

 

ROGER KLAASSEN, TERRA CEIA

Roger Klaassen’s Terra Ceia basketball team lost just twice this past winter. Both came at Wayne Country Day — once in the season opener and again in the second round of the NCISAA playoffs, both by a combined eight points. He and the Knights put together one of the most special seasons in the team’s illustrious history. Klaassen also served as skipper for the Knights’ baseball team that finished 11-6.

 

MILTON RUFFIN, SOUTHSIDE

Milton Ruffin’s winter and spring bled into one another. The Southside girls’ basketball bench boss led the Lady Seahawks to the playoffs. They were knocked off in the first round, and Ruffin’s attention shifted almost immediately to softball. He took one day to rest before getting the softball squad organized. He guided Southside to the second round of the playoffs.