Sports

Boys Tennis: Huey named NY’s coach of the year

Longtime Mattituck boys tennis coach Mike Huey took over the girls program this fall. He was recently honored as the state coach of the year for boys tennis. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)
Longtime Mattituck boys tennis coach Mike Huey took over the girls program this fall. He was recently honored as the state coach of the year for boys tennis. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)

The Mattituck High School boys tennis team did quite well for itself this past spring, putting up a 12-4 record and reaching the second round of the Suffolk County Team Tournament. What the Tuckers didn’t know at the time, though, was they were playing for the top boys tennis coach in New York State.

That was the determination of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, which selected Mike Huey as its coach of the year for 2014.

Huey learned of the honor last week when the Mattituck athletic director, Gregg Wormuth, forwarded the email notifying the school district of the selection. In addition, Huey has been nominated for consideration as the National Federation of High School Coaches Association boys tennis coach of the year.

“It did catch me by surprise,” Huey said. “I had no clue. I guess that’s what they give old guys who have been around for a long time.”

Huey has coached the Tuckers for 38 years, building a 358-214 record. He was named a league coach of the year eight times.

A few years ago Huey was selected to the New York State Soccer Hall of Fame as a boys soccer coach and administrator. This latest honor rates up there, though, for him.

“It’s very important because it involved a body of work for a whole career and that to me is very meaningful,” he said.

Wormuth, who succeeded Huey as the school district’s athletic director, said Huey is “an amazing coach. Not only does his record indicate the numbers of wins and losses but you can see what he’s done in his own school district for years.”

Wormuth continued: “It’s amazing for him, for the school district. I think it’s an honor to represent what he did and what he does as a coach on a daily basis.”

Huey is in his first year coaching Mattituck’s girls tennis team. The 13-1 team won the League VIII championship and is looking at a playoff match in its near future.

The NFHSCA Advisory Committee will meet Dec. 8 and 9 and review the national nominations. The national coaches of the year in all high school sports will be announced in mid-January.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Huey said of his time coaching the Mattituck boys. “Thirty-eight years is a lot of years and I’ve had so many players come through the Mattituck system and made great relationships and a lot of them carry on until today and that’s the great thing.”

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