FRANKFORT, IL — Frankfort School District 157-C is proud to announce that Mitch Stein, Head Coach of the Hickory Creek Middle School Girls Softball team, has been named the 2025 Girls 3A Softball Coach of the Year by the Illinois Coaches Association (ICA).
This prestigious recognition marks the fourth time Coach Stein has received this honor, following his Coach of the Year awards in 2018, 2022, and 2023. Under his leadership over the past 16 years, the Tigers have become a powerhouse in Illinois junior high athletics, securing seven state championship appearances in the past decade and capturing the state title five times, including a dominant championship run in 2025.
“Mitch and the program that he and Erin Nemeth run have received accolades of excellence multiple times through the years,” said Tricia Dotson, Principal of Hickory Creek Middle School. “We are proud of the outstanding work that they do.”
Beyond his coaching success, Stein serves the district as a dedicated special
education teacher at Hickory Creek. His ability to foster character and teamwork has solidified the Tigers’ reputation for excellence within the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA). Coach Stein is proud of the program’s reputation of not only having a winning tradition but also being a place where softball players and coaches can feel like part of a family.
Reflecting on the achievement, Coach Stein credited his athletes: “I want to truly thank these girls for being great competitors, loyal teammates, and wonderful human beings. Their love and passion for softball brought out the best in me as a coach. The talent they displayed was a coach’s dream—they are the true reason I am receiving this honor.”