Apr 18, 2016 7 min read

The Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association Coach of the Year Banquet makes sure to recognize contributions made in athletics that complement those who play and coach.

Each year, the banquet recognizes individuals who contribute to sports and service in their community, the Special Olympics Athlete of the Year, the Athletic Director of the Year, Excellence in Officiating, and Olympic Sports coaches.

These individuals are selected on merit, contribution and dedication.

They will be honored during the annual banquet at 5 p.m. Sunday at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Meadow Lands.

Tickets for the banquet are $35 each and are on sale at Washington High School, 201 Allison Avenue, Washington, Pa., 15301. Reservations can be made by calling athletic director Joe Nicolella at 724-223-5085, ext. 2091.

All proceeds from the banquet benefit Special Olympics.

The following is a short bio on the honorees:

Special Olympics Athlete of the Year, Jean Urbas: Urbas has participated in Special Olympic for more than 30 years. She competed in bowling, basketball, softball, bocce and track and field. Her sportsmanship is amazing as she once offered her god medal at a meet to another competitor who was upset at earning a ribbon.

Urbas lives in a small group home. She has four sisters, one brother, five nieces, seven nephews and one great nephew. Her mother is Margaret Urbas.

Royce Kotouch: Kotouch was born and raised in Eldersville and is a lifelong resident of Burgettstown. He graduated from Burgettstown High School in 1988 and was involved with the football and wrestling teams. He also was a junior firefighter for the Eldersville Volunteer Fire Department and is still an active member as a trained EMT. A near fatal accident on Labor Day Weekend in 2004 in which he was severely burned did not deter his passion to volunteer and help his community.

Kotouch started with the Burgettstown Cadet Wrestling Program in 1997 as an assistant coach is now general manager of that group. He started with the Burgettstown Lions football organization in 1999 and has been an assistant coach, head coach, lead fundraiser, GM, vice president, and president for the past 6 years.

Kotouch became head of maintenance at Hill Memorial Football Stadium last fall. He added the duties of 7th-8th football coach in 2014 and junior high wrestling coach this season. He somehow finds the time and energy to give back to the school and community while maintaining a full time job with Alex Paris Construction Co.

Kotouch and his wife Renea have three boys -Ryan, Stephen and Christopher.

Dick Kohl Memorial , Joe Nicolella, Washington High School: A 1973 graduate of Trinity High School and a 1978 graduate of West Virginia University, Nicolella was hired by the Washington School District in 1978 and taught English for 35 years. He taught junior English and AP English and served as the adviser for the yearbook and National Honor Society.

Nicolella began coaching at Washington in 1979, middle school and junior high boys basketball for 11 years. In 1990, he became varsity assistant and coached junior varsity basketball for 23 years. Before becoming athletic director, Nicolella ran the clock at football games and soccer matches. He spent the past two years as a volunteer assistant on the basketball staff of longtime friend Ron Faust.

With Faust’s retirement in 2009, Nicolella became athletic director, a position he has held for the past seven years. In addition to overseeing the district’s 13 varsity and six middle school sports, Nicolella has served as the secretary of the Interstate Conference, is presently the secretary of the Century Conference, creates the Tri-CADA middle school football schedule, and handles the ticket sales and seating arrangements for the Tri-County Coach of the Year Banquet. He also serves as the director of the National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society for the Washington School District.

Nicolella’s term as athletic director ends this year, and he and his wife of 32 years, Marla, plan to enjoy time together and with their three adult children – Katie, Jamie, and Jake – and their families.

Larry Fingers, Canon-McMillan boys soccer: Fingers led the Big Macs to a strong season, capturing the WPIAL Class AAA title and earning state postseason berth. The Big Macs won the Section 5 title by one match over Upper St. Clair.

Canon-McMillan won the next four matches, each by one goal. A 2-1 victory over Fox Chapel secured a WPIAL title. In the state tournament, C-M beat Erie Cathedral Prep 1-0 then lost to Seneca Valley by the same score. The Big Macs finished with a 19-4 record.

Rob Eldridge, South Fayette boys soccer: Eldridge propelled South Fayette to the Section 5-AA championship, thanks to an 11-match winning streak. In the WPIAL postseason, South Fayette shut out Shady Side Academy and McGuffey, then had one-goal wins over South Park and Mars, the latter coming in the WPIAL finals.

In the state tournament, the Lions shut out Thomas Jefferson before falling to Susquehanncok in the second round.

Dave Kuhn, Peters Township golf: Kuhn led Peters Township to a successful defense of the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament. Peters Township finished at 383 over the 6,420-yard par-72 course at Cedarbrook- a 76.6 average for the five scoring golfers – 10 strokes better than Fox Chapel.

It was the 12th time in the past 13 years Peters Township competed in the finals, only missing out in 2006 by one shot in that run. The school’s first WPIAL title came 1981.

Paul Lancaster: Lancaster was raised in Smock and graduated from Uniontown High School in 1974. Lancaster participated in football and baseball. Lancaster received a technical degree from the Dean Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. Lancaster worked for 38 years at Cumberland Coal in Greene County, working as an electrician and mechanic.

Lancaster’s officiating career began in 1988 for the PIAA in softball,, baseball, football and basketball. He trained at the Sun Belt Umpire Camp in North Carolina in 1990 and at Joe Brinkman Umpire School in Florida in 1991.

Lancaster has officiated football and baseball tournament games for the PIAA, NCAA Division II baseball postseason tournament games and NCAA Division I baseball postseason tournament games.

He and his wife Jackie of 22 years reside in Uniontown and have three sons – Matt 34, Nicholas 20, and Gregory 15 – and two grandchildren – Donata 8 and Jude 3.

Ken McWilliams: McWilliams started his wrestling officiating career in 1973, the year after graduating from high school. He often worked with his brother, Tom, who officiated for more than 20 years. Still active, McWilliams has 44 years of officiating experience. He served as secretary/treasurer of the Washington County Officials Chapter for 24 years. He also is a member of the Ohio Valley Chapter of officials.

McWilliams has officiated matches from youth to college, working numerous sections, regions, and more than 20 West Virginia High School state championships.

McWilliams is a retired postal employee who currently works as a para-educator. He also volunteered for many years for Canonsburg Town Park. He lives in Canonsburg with Sandy, his wife of 40 years. They have two married daughters – Joslyn (Barry Bilitski) and Whitney (John Solvay) – and one grandson, Reid.