Wahluke's Joel Dugan named D-5 Football Coach of the Year

MATTAWA - An e-mail from "out of the blue" has led to Wahluke Junior High's Joel Dugan being named District 5 Junior High-Middle School Coach of the year by the Washington State Football Coaches Association.

Wahluke Athletic Director Cody Marlow received the surprise e-mail from the Zillah AD. It asked if he had anyone he'd like to nominate for the award. Marlow thought of Dugan right away and e-mailed the nominating information to the Quincy AD.

Everything had happened so suddenly that Marlow forgot all about the award. About a month and a half later he received a call announcing Dugan as the winner.

"He was ecstatic," Marlow said.

Dugan was chosen with good reason. He has been coaching at WJH for five years. He is the head football, head girls basketball and head track coach.

But Dugan does not work in isolation. He coordinates everything he does with the Wahluke High School coaches, sitting in on their meetings and employing their practice and game strategies.

"He puts in tons of hours," Marlow said. "He works really hard with the high school coaching team to make football a true 7-12 program."

Dugan even holds a spring football camp for his boys, just like the high school coaches do.