INDIANAPOLIS — The 2017 ABCA/Diamond National Coaches of the Year awards were announced this week with former North Hall coach Trent Mongero named the High School Division III Coach of the Year.
Mongero led the Trojans to the GHSA Class AAA state title in May with a two-game sweep of No. 1 Pierce County in the finals. It was the first-ever state title in program history for North Hall. The Trojans won their final 10 games in the playoffs with sweeps in every round after edging Pace Academy in three games in the first round.
"I am absolutely humbled and honored to my core," Mongero said.
However, Mongero stepped down as Trojans coach last month after accepting the same position with Glynn Academy in Brunswick. Mongero posted a record of 252-110 in 11 seasons with the Trojans and collected his 200th and 400th wins as a high school coach at Jody Davis Field. The Trojans were 164-65 from 2011-17, which was highlighted and culminated with the program’s first-ever state title last month.
He led North Hall to a Class AAA runner-up finish in 2013 and twice was named the Class AAA Georgia Dugout Coach of the Year (2013 and 2017).
The Regional and National Coaches of the Year will be honored at the ABCA/Diamond Hall of Fame/Coach of the Year Banquet on Jan. 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana, as part of the 74th annual ABCA Convention.
Here is a list of all the coaches who will be honored:
NCAA Div. I: Kevin O'Sullivan, Florida
NCAA Div. II: Jad Prachniak, West Chester (PA)
NCAA Div. III: Marty Slimak, Cal Lutheran
NAIA: Jeremiah Robbins, Lewis-Clark State (ID)
NJCAA Div. I: Jeff Johnson, Chipola (FL)
NJCAA Div. II: Todd Post, Kankakee (IL)
NJCAA Div. III: Doug Wren, Tyler (TX)
Pacific Association Division: Randy Abshier, Grossmont (CA)
High School Div. I: Brian Ash, Jefferson City (MO)
High School Div. II: Joel Sage, Roosevelt (SD)
High School Div. III: Trent Mongero, North Hall (GA)
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 8,200 members represent all 50 states and 23 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, the association’s annual awards program has grown to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Division I, II, III, Pacific Association Division and High School.
