On February 4, 2022, the IHSA honored Carterville High School cheerleading head coach Linda Drust at the 2022 IHSA Cheerleading State Finals. As the Small Team division state qualifiers prepared to find out who advanced to the finals, Drust was accompanied by her squad at the front of the Matt where she was recongized and reiceved a certificate from the NFHS. She the presentation below:
Drust, who was recently featured on the Lions Lowdown Podcast, started as one of 22 coaches who were honored as the NFHS State Coaches of the Year in Illinois, before advancing through the NFHS process to be named the Section and National winner of the award. Two other honorees, Loyola Academy girls lacrosse coach John Dwyer and Orangeville softball coach Lon Scheuerell were recognized as Midwest Section Coaches of the year.
The full list of the NFHS Coaches of the Year in Illinois are below, followed by more from the NFHS on Drust:
Sport: Coach of the Year, High School
Football: Ric Arand, Lena-Winslow
Boys Basketball: Todd Tripp, Goreville
Boys Soccer: Josh Potter, Chicago University
Wrestling: Jason Clay, Vandalia
Boys Cross Country: Dan Gray, Peoria Notre Dame
Boys Tennis: Matt Norris, Hersey
Boys Golf: Paul Hezlett, Glenbard West
Boys Swimming & Diving: Rob Rooney, St. Charles North\
Boys Track & Field: Brett Charlton, Eureka
Baseball: Jim Steinwart, Springfield HS
Boys Bowling: Marcus Barriger, Belleville East
Boys Gymnastics: Sam Zeman, Lyons
Boys Lacrosse: Marc Thiergart, Lake Forest
Boys Volleyball: Chris Cooper, Glenbrook North
Boys Water Polo: Sean Wimer, Stevenson
Girls Basketball: Greg Bennett, Lewistown
Girls Volleyball: Brad Dalton, St. Teresa
Girls Soccer: Matt Bettlach, Triad
Girls Cross Country: Suzanne Curry, Vernon Hills
Girls Tennis: Dawaud Talib, Chicago University
Girls Swimming & Diving: Courtney Louret, Champaign Centennial
Girls Golf: Courtney Poole, Benton
Girls Track & Field: Dan Daly, Chicago Latin
Softball: Lon Scheuerell, Orangeville (Section Winner)
Girls Lacrosse: John Dwyer, Loyola Academy (Section Winner)
Badminton: Rachel Fassl, Homewood-Flossmoor
Girls Bowling: Linda Siezaga, Lockport
Girls Gymnastic: Kristyn Campos, Downers Grove South
Girls Water Polo: Megan Brownley, Hersey
Spirit: Linda Drust, Carterville (Section/National Winner)
Girls Spirit National Coach of the Year
Linda Drust, Carterville High School
When Linda Drust left competitive cheer in 1987 to further her career in school administration, she knew she would coach again. And she likely saved her best for her second stint. Since returning in 2011, and becoming head coach in 2012, Drust has had Cartersville (Illinois) High School contending each year for a state championship. After qualifying for six-consecutive Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Competitive Cheer State Finals, Drust and her Cartersville squad won the championship in 2019-20. The win was one of three team championships guided by Drust during her career. In 2020 and 2021, Cartersville captured back-to-back IHSA Sectional Championships. In 2019, Cartersville came up just short (.04 points) of winning the Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association (ICCA) Championship. Drust has been a member of ICCA since she returned to coaching 2011. She is also one of the original board members of the Illinois High School Cheerleading Coaches Association (IHSCCO), and is in her third year as co-mentor chair. In that officer role, Drust is responsible for organizing and facilitating a statewide mentoring program, which currently includes more than 20 new coaches.