Allison Wright, left, and Jack Petroelje, right, honor Boyne City ski coach Bob Simpson at halftime of the football game last Friday. Simpson was recently named the MHSCA ski coach of the year. Photo by Vic Ruggles

"It's an honor for the kids and for the school, not so much for the individual," he said.

To find out why Simpson deserves this award, you can't talk to him - you have to talk with school administrators and the athletes he coaches. Then you'll realize that this award really is all about Bob Simpson, despite what he might tell you, and what he has meant to the ski program at Boyne City.

"We are very fortunate to have the likes of Bob Simpson on our coaching staff," Boyne City Athletic Director Jack Petroelje said. "He's in this business for the right reasons."

Those reasons, as Simpson and Petroelje will tell you, are the kids he coaches.

"For Bob, winning is nice," Petroelje said, "but what he's truly concerned about is each kid - that they're emotionally solid, then academically strong, and then skiing."

Simpson said that his best single coaching memory is winning the girls state championship last year, but that's not what makes it all worthwhile. "For me, the best thing that happens is when kids you used to coach come back and thank you," he said.

Simpson said that it's common now for him to have kids on his team whose parents he also coached.

"It just keeps going right on down the line," he said.

Two of the kids he's coaching now, seniors Allison Wright and Nick Simeri, described a passionate coach who's willing to put in the extra work and who puts his athlete's needs above his own.

"He makes everything a lot of fun," Wright said. "He finds ways to make us try harder without putting pressure on us.

"We try our hardest to not disappoint ourselves more than to not disappoint him."

"If there's a big race he'll take our equipment and get it tuned for us," Simeri said. "He's out there working early to set up the course so we don't have to."

Simeri said that Simpson will also stay late and give athletes extra coaching.

"He definitely deserves this award," Simeri said. "It's nice he gets recognized for all the work he puts in."

Simpson said his favorite part of coaching is "working with the kids." "We have a great group of kids and parents in Boyne City," he said. "It's really been enjoyable the last 20 years."

Simpson will formally receive the award at the 49th annual MHSCA Coach of the Year Banquet in Lansing on Sunday, Nov. 4.