WHEELING — The 2024-25 OVAC Bill Van Horne Coach of the Year Committee had its work cut out for it this year in trying to determine a list of five finalists. There were 11 names submitted for consideration.

The five finalists were voted upon by committee members on a point system.

The prestigious honor will be presented by OVAC Executive Director Dirk Decoy at the conclusion of the annual Banquet of Champions on Tuesday, May 20 inside WesBanco Arena. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 and the program to follow.

A brief capsule of the five finalists follows:

MIKE COTTIS, Indian Creek Baseball. Cottis, who was hired in 2001, led the Redskins to a historic season last spring as they went 22-7 and advanced to the Ohio Division II Final Four before falling to West Branch.

A graduate of the former Wintersville High School, Cottis was recently inducted into the Eastern District Hall of Fame.

MASON LANG, Monroe Central Boys Basketball. In just his second season, Lang and the Seminoles reached the pinnacle when they captured the Ohio Division VI state championship in March with a 42-35 victory over Marion Local inside the University of Dayton Arena.

Monroe Central finished 26-3, with two of the losses to W.Va. state champion Wheeling Central.

KEN MAISEL, University High Wrestling. Maisel and the Hawks won the OVAC Ron Mauck Overall and Class 5A titles in January, then captured the W.Va. Class AAA championship shortly after. This was his 30th season at the Morgantown-based school. The Hawks had four individual state champions this past season.

HOLLY PETTIT, Cameron Girls Basketball. The Dragons won their fifth consecutive OVAC Class A championship despite losing four seniors. They also advanced to the W.Va. Class A state tournament for a fourth straight season.

Cameron finished 18-4.

MEL STEPHENS, Wheeling Central Boys Basketball. The Maroon Knights under Stephens direction won the OVAC Class 3A championship before claiming the W.Va. Class AA state title in posting a 24-2 record. It was the school’s first state title since 2018 and the seventh during Stephens’ tenure.

Two of their victories came over Ohio Division VI state champion Monroe Central, as well as one of their losses.