Former Lake Wales Boys Basketball Coach Billy Washington Nominated for National Honor

Wed. October 17, 2012 at 9:00 p.m. | By Solange Reyner

Lake Wales head coach Billy Washington talks to his players on the floor during the Class 5A regional final against Durant at Durant High School in Plant City, FL on Saturday February 26, 2011. Lake Wales won 64-38. (Photo by Scott Wheeler | The Ledger)

By SOLANGE REYNER

THE LEDGER

LAKELAND | Billy Washington, the former Lake Wales boys basketball coach who led his team to the Class 5A state title last year, has been nominated as the national coach of the year for the 2011-12 season.

The Florida Athletic Coaches Association nominated Washington for the honor in early October. He'll be up against other state winners across the U.S., said Don Prokes, the executive director of The National High School Athletic Coaches Association, the organization that will be selecting the winner.

Every state sends in a nominee. The final eight will be picked on Dec. 1.

Washington resigned from his post on June 8. He was the head coach at Lake Wales for five years and his team went 28-4 last year. The previous season the Highlanders were the state runner-up in Class 5A.