T E X A R K A N A M A G A Z I N E
Fincher played baseball in college at Henderson State University and later joined their coaching staff for two years before moving on to high school coaching. Pleasant Grove High School Principal Kristin Giles said, “Coach Fincher pours his passion for education into all our students. He provides his players with the confidence and skills they need to be successful on and off the field.” It is obvious Coach Fincher is loved and appreciated by the
the head coach at Pleasant Grove and am overjoyed at the opportunity that this award allows the team and community to be showcased,” he said. While it was humbling enough to receive the National Coach of the Year award, Fincher also earned the title of Class 4A Coach of the Year as voted upon by the Texas Sportswriters Association. “Coach Fincher is the best coach I have ever played for,” emphasized Blain. “It was an
Texarkana community. But his accolades reach beyond this area as he was recently named the High School National Coach of the Year in 2021 by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Fincher admitted it was “an unexpected honor” to receive such an award. “The best thing about the award is that it allowed our coaching staff and players to be recognized as well. That award was a team and coaching staff award. None of it would have been possible without our amazing men and coaching staff,” he said. To add to the excitement of this award, Fincher was the only coach in the state of Texas to be considered in any of the three divisions. The ABCA Convention was held in January in Chicago, Illinois, where Coach Fincher was honored and recognized for his many accomplishments and outstanding coaching. Fincher showed much humility when accepting the award, as he gave all the credit to his team and coaching staff. “I feel fortunate to be
honor to get to play for him for four years. He was a great coach, but an even better role model for my teammates and me. He played a big role in my life my senior year and helped me with challenges off the field and I will forever be thankful for that.” Blain was thrilled to help his coach win his first state title at Pleasant Grove. A state championship win and the national recognition of the head baseball coach was a great and well-deserved end to last year’s season. As the 2021-2022 high school baseball season is winding down, the excitement surrounding the team, Coach Fincher and the Pleasant Grove community has been palpable. Their hard work has clearly paid off as they inch closer and closer to the playoffs yet again. As the seniors prepare for college or whatever career path they have chosen, the excitement of another possible state championship title may be hard to shake. Let’s wish them lots of luck as they finish out this season with a bang. Go Hawks!
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S P O R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
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