After guiding the Covington Catholic tennis team to a third straight state title in 2025, Colonels coach Al Hertsenberg is up for some national recognition.
Hertsenberg was recently named a National High School Athletic Coaches Association finalist for the 2026 NHSACA national coach of the year in tennis.
He’s one of eight finalists in the respective sport from across the country who will be honored during the National Coach of the Year Awards Banquet on July 1 in Coralville, Iowa.
The highlight of the banquet will be the naming of the NHSACA national coach of the year in 19 recognized sports categories.
Hertsenberg was nominated for this national honor by Kentucky’s high school coaches’
association. This selection was based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, championship years and winning percentage.
The nominees and finalists are evaluated by experts in the field of coaching using a sport-specific rubric to assign points in each category. The National High School
Athletic Coaches Association is the oldest coaches association in the nation, formed by coaches, for coaches, and has been recognizing national coaches of the year since 1978.
Hertsenberg led the Colonels to their first team state title in program history during the 2023 season. CovCath has won 21 straight 9th Region titles, Hertsenberg guiding the program for the past 33 seasons. In 2024 he was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame.
Three other coaches in the state are also finalists: Zach Hobbs, McCracken County baseball, Shannon Troutman, Henderson County softball and Zach Brooks, DuPont Manual girls track and field.