High school coaches with highest winning percentages

The late Eugene Chyzowych is one of the nation's winningest high school soccer coaches, capturing 758 wins in nearly 50 years at Columbia (Maplewood, N.J.). There's reason to argue, however, that Chyzowych is the greatest high school coach of all-time, but not in soccer — in girls volleyball. That's because in 12 seasons as a girls volleyball coach, Chyzowych never lost a match.

When Columbia started its volleyball program in 1977, the school tabbed longtime soccer coach Chyzowych as the head coach. All he did was win 227 matches in a row without defeat. For his performance, Chyzowych tops the MaxPreps list of 100 coaches with the highest all-time winning percentage.

Three volleyball coaches top the list as Sheron Watson of Norwin (Pa.) and Sally Kus of Sweet Home (Amherst, N.Y.) come in behind Chyzowych. Watson has a 96.83 winning percentage while Kus was 96.47. All three put together long win streaks during their career with Kus winning 292 straight and Watson winning 203. Columbia won 20 more games after Chyzowych retired for a 247-game win streak.

The Top 100 list only includes coaches who compete in regulation games and not dual meets. So cross country, track and field, wrestling, tennis, golf and swim coaches are not included. Coaches had to win at least 500 games in most sports in order to qualify. Football need 200 and lacrosse coaches need 300. Chyzowych was an exception to the minimum criteria due to his unique accomplishment.

Sources included state association websites, the NFHS Record Book, the Cal-Hi Sports Record Book by Mark Tennis and Nelson Tennis and research via Newspapers.com. If there are any additions or corrections, contact Kevin Askeland at kevinaskeland65@gmail.com.
High school coaches with highest winning percentages

1.   Eugene Chyzowych
School: Columbia (Maplewood, N.J.)
Record: 227-0
Winning Percentage: 1.000
Years: 1977-88
Sport: Volleyball

2.   Sheron Watson
School: Norwin (North Huntingdon, Pa.)
Record: 642-21
Winning Percentage: .9683
Years: 1973-93
Sport: Volleyball

3.   Sally Kus
School: Sweet Home (Amherst, N.Y.)
Record: 792-29
Winning Percentage: .9647
Years: 1974-96
Sport: Volleyball

4.   Danyle Heilig
School: Eastern (Voorhees, N.J.)
Record: 527-16-10
Winning Percentage: .9620
Years: 1998-2019
Sport: Field Hockey

5.   Chris Robinson
School: Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 370-20-1
Winning Percentage: .9476
Years: 1999-present
Sport: Girls Lacrosse

6.   Norma Bellamy
School: Safford (Ariz.)
Record: 520-33
Winning Percentage: .9403
Years: 1968-92, 95
Sport: Volleyball

7.   George Quarles
School: Maryville (Tenn.)
Record: 250-16-0
Winning Percentage: .9398
Years: 1999-2016
Sport: Football

8.   Bob Ladouceur
School: De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Record: 399-25-3
Winning Percentage: .9379
Years: 1979-2012
Sport: Football

9.   Steve Smith
School: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Record: 1,188-79
Winning Percentage: .9376
Years: 1985-present
Sport: Boys basketball

10.  Steve Shondell
School: Muncie Burris (Ind.)
Record: 1,209-102
Winning Percentage: .9222
Years: 1976-2009, 2019
Sport: Volleyball

11.   Sue Butz-Stavin
School: Emmaus (Pa.)
Record: 1976-present
Winning Percentage: .9212
Years: 986-82-5
Sport: Field hockey

12.   Denny Thorneburg
School: Casey-Westfield (Casey, Ill.)
Record: 647-56
Winning Percentage: .9203
Years: 1978-1999
Sport: Softball

13.   John Knuth
School: Marysville (Mich.)
Record: 1135-84-38
Winning Percentage: .9181
Years: 1985-2007, 20011
Sport: Volleyball

14.   Joe Lombard
School: Canyon (Texas)
Record: 1,373-126
Winning Percentage: .9159
Years: 1978-2020
Sport: Girls basketball

15.   Tom Turco
School: Barnstable (Hyannis, Mass.)
Record: 700-66
Winning Percentage: .9138
Years: 1988-present
Sport: Volleyball

16.   William Kean
School: Central (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 856-83
Winning Percentage: .91161
Years: 1922-58
Sport: Boys basketball

17.   John Roderique
School: Webb City (Mo.)
Record: 299-29
Winning Percentage: .91159
Years: 1997-present
Sport: Football

18.   Bertha Teague
School: Byng (Ada, Okla.)
Record: 1,157-115
Winning Percentage: .90959
Years: 1927-69
Sport: Girls basketball

19.   Vin Mizer
School: Fowler (Colo.)
Record: 513-51
Winning Percentage: .90957
Years: 1974-96
Sport: Volleyball

20.   Gary Joseph
School: Katy (Texas)
Record: 220-22
Winning Percentage: .9091
Years: 2004-present
Sport: Football

21.   Mike Messere
School: West Genesee (Camillus, N.Y.)
Record: 846-85
Winning Percentage: .9087
Years: 1976-2018
Sport: Boys lacrosse

22.   Ron Kordes
School: Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 1,155-117
Winning Percentage: .90802
Years: 1989-present
Sport: Volleyball

23.   Becky Dickinson
School: McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.)
Record: 1,273-129
Winning Percentage: .90799
Years: 1968-99
Sport: Volleyball

24.   Gary McKnight
School: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 1,161-118
Winning Percentage: .9077
Years: 1983-present
Sport: Boys basketball

25.   Joan Lundstrom Wells
School: Lawrence (Kan.)
Record: 865-90
Winning Percentage: .9058
Years: 1971-97
Sport: Volleyball

26.   Bob Hurley
School: St. Anthony's (Jersey City, N.J.)
Record: 1,185-124
Winning Percentage: .9053
Years: 1974-2017
Sport: Boys basketball

27.   Maria Nolan
School: Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.)
Record: 1,041-112
Winning Percentage: .9029
Years: 1975-2001, 2003-19
Sport: Volleyball

28.   Kris Kern
School: Logan Elm (Circleville, Ohio) (final school, coached at eight schools)
Record: 762-82
Winning Percentage: .9028
Years: 1980-2016
Sport: Volleyball

29.   Frank Dixon
School: Carmel (Ind.)
Record: 537-39-43
Winning Percentage: .9023
Years: 1991-present
Sport: Girls soccer

30.   Louise Crocco
School: Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 1,132-113
Winning Percentage: .9020
Years: 1969-2007
Sport: Volleyball

31.   Nancy Williams
School: Shore Regional (West Long Branch, N.J.)
Record: 839-67-56
Winning Percentage: .9012
Years: 1970-2013
Sport: Field hockey

32.   Wiley Allred
School: Royal (Royal City, Wash.)
Record: 243-27-0
Winning Percentage: .9000
Years: 1999-present
Sport: Football

33.    Daelea Aldrich
School: Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
Record: 668-76
Winning Percentage: .8978
Years: 1983-2007
Sport: Volleyball

34.  Thednal Hill
School: Highland (Hardy, Ark.)
Record: 1,063-122
Winning Percentage: .8970
Years: 1952-86
Sport: Girls Basketball

35.   Lillian Shelton
School: Severna Park (Md.)
Record: 544-60-10
Winning Percentage: .8941
Years: 1971-2011
Sport: Field hockey

36.   Tom Keating
School: Wahlert (Dubuque, Iowa)
Record: 738-80-17
Winning Percentage: .8940
Years: 1978-2003
Sport: Volleyball

37.   Carlos Giron
School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 835-86-31
Winning Percentage: .8934
Years: 1984-present
Sport: Girls soccer

38.  JT Curtis
School: John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)
Record: 596-70-6
Winning Percentage: .8914
Years: 1969-present
Sport: Football

39.   Clary Anderson
School: Montclair (N.J.)
Record: 209-23-6
Winning Percentage: .8908
Years: 1940-69
Sport: Football

40.   Karen Weitz
School: Centennial (Las Vegas)
Record: 673-84
Winning Percentage: .8890
Years: 1996-present
Sport: Girls basketball

41.   Joe McNicholas
School: Ridley (Folsom, Pa.)
Record: 226-28-3
Winning Percentage: .8852
Years: 1973-96
Sport: Football

42.   Vernon McLearn
School: Mediapolis (Iowa)
Record: 706-80-30
Winning Percentage: .8836
Years: 1957-1987
Sport: Girls basketball

43.   Joe Cuozzo
School: Ward Melville (East Setauket, N.Y.)
Record: 747-100
Winning Percentage: .8819
Years: 1967-2005
Sport: Boys lacrosse

44.   Mike Pettine
School: Central Bucks West (Doylestown, Pa.)
Record: 326-42-4
Winning Percentage: .8817
Years: 1967-99
Sport: Football

45.   Butch Goncharoff
School: Bellevue (Wash.)
Record: 201-27-0
Winning Percentage: .8816
Years: 2000-15, 2017-present
Sport: Football

46.   Dave Pinkham
School: Gilford (N.H.)
Record: 673-77-33
Winning Percentage: .8806
Years: 1977-2016
Sport: Boys soccer

47.   Kevin Kelley
School: Pulaski Academy (Little Rock, Ark.)
Record: 215-29-1
Winning Percentage: .8796
Years: 2003-present
Sport: Football

48.   Sharon Sarsen
School: Lakeland (Shrub Oak, N.Y.)
Record: 659-73-40
Winning Percentage: .8795
Years: 1982-present
Sport: Field hockey

49.   JD Graham
School: Newark Catholic (Newark, Ohio)
Record: 220-30-1
Winning Percentage: .8785
Years: 1971-1991
Sport: Football

50.   Nancy Pederson
School: Mother McAuley (Chicago)
Record: 789-110-0
Winning Percentage: .8776
Years: 1982-2004
Sport: Volleyball

51.   Dennis Koester
School: Teutopolis (Ill.)
Record: 650-91
Winning Percentage: .87719
Years: 1983-2006
Sport: Girls basketball

52. Jim Roth
School: Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.)
Record: 456-63-2
Winning Percentage: .87716
Years: 1984-present
Sport: Football

53.   Pat Rice
School: Waunakee (Wis.)
Record: 298-42-0
Winning Percentage: .8765
Years: 1992-present
Sport: Football

54.   Charles Womack
School: Hawley (Texas)
Record: 896-127
Winning Percentage: .8759
Years: 1947-79
Sport: Boys basketball

55.   Rich Anderson
School: Seneca (Ill.)
Record: 564-80
Winning Percentage: .8758
Years: 1980-2003
Sport: Girls basketball

56.   Carlton Flatt
School: Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.)
Record: 320-46-0
Winning Percentage: .8743
Years: 1970-2006
Sport: Football

57.   Kevin Boyle
School: Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 841-121-0
Winning Percentage: .8742
Years: 1989-present
Sport: Boys basketball

58.   Phil Savitz
School: Irmo (Columbia, S.C.)
Record: 761-107-7
Winning Percentage: .8737
Years: 1980-present
Sport: Boys soccer

59.   John Burke
School: Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.)
Record: 540-59-45
Winning Percentage: .8734
Years: 1995-2020
Sport: Girls soccer

60.   Cal Lee
School: St. Louis (Honolulu)
Record: 296-41-5
Winning Percentage: .87281
Years: 1970, 1972-2001, 2012-19
Sport: Football

61.   Tommy Knotts
School: Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)
Record: 439-64-0
Winning Percentage: .87276
Years: 1983-2003, 2005-present
Sport: Football

62.   Paul Heenehan
School: Ramapo (Franklin Lakes, N.J.)
Record: 747-92-40
Winning Percentage: .8726
Years: 1978-2016
Sport: Girls soccer

63.   Calvin Short
School: Gallatin (Tenn.)
Record: 205-30-0
Winning Percentage: .8723
Years: 1976-1993
Sport: Football

64.   Brad Smith
School: Oregon City (Ore.)
Record: 628-92
Winning Percentage: .8722
Years: 1980-2006
Sport: Girls basketball

65.   Joe Vaughan
School: Buena (Ventura, Calif.)
Record: 761-112
Winning Percentage: .8717
Years: 1976-2007
Sport: Girls basketball

66.   William Winfield
School: King (Detroit)
Record: 698-105
Winning Percentage: .8692
Years: 1982-2018
Sport: Girls basketball

67.   Morgan Wootten
School: DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
Record: 1,274-192
Winning Percentage: .8690
Years: 1957-2002
Sport: Boys basketball

68.   Frank Allocco
School: De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Record: 654-99
Winning Percentage: .86853
Years: 1991-2015
Sport: Boys basketball

69.   Curt Bladt
School: Harlan (Iowa)
Record: 416-63-0
Winning Percentage: .86848
Years: 1978-2018
Sport: Football

70.   Jim White
School: Clear Creek-Amana (Tiffin, Iowa)
Record: 995-151
Winning Percentage: .8682
Years: 1995-2017
Sport: Softball

71.   Pete Adkins
School: Jefferson City (Mo.)
Record: 405-60-4
Winning Percentage: .8678
Years: 1951-1994
Sport: Football

72.   Seymour Williams
School: Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.)
Record: 284-35-20
Winning Percentage: .8673
Years: 1918-51
Sport: Football

73.   Dean Weese
School: Levelland (Texas)
Record: 972-149
Winning Percentage: .8671
Years: 1958-97
Sport: Girls basketball

74.   Rick Lorenz
School: Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.)
Record: 1,334-207
Winning Percentage: .8650
Years: 1977-present
Sport: Volleyball

75.   Jan Barker
School: Amarillo (Texas)
Record: 1,116-175
Winning Percentage: .8644
Years: 1987-2017
Sport: Volleyball

76.   Kellie Rowland
School: Lakewood (Lake Odessa, Mich.)
Record: 1,028-155-7
Winning Percentage: .8638
Years: 1991-2002, 2009-17
Sport: Volleyball

77.   Frank Orlando
School: Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.)
Record: 797-126
Winning Percentage: .8635
Years: 1981-2019
Sport: Girls basketball

78.   Bill McGregor
School: DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
Record: 285-44-3
Winning Percentage: .8630
Years: 1982-2010, 2019
Sport: Football

79.   Paula Kirkland
School: Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)
Record: 999-157-5
Winning Percentage: .8626
Years: 1981-2020
Sport: Volleyball

80.   Mike Glines
School: Central Catholic (Modesto, Calif.)
Record: 204-31-4
Winning Percentage: .8619
Years: 1970-78, 1993-2007
Sport: Football

81.   Brant Llewellyn
School: Lauderdale County (Rogersville, Ala.)
Record: 553-89
Winning Percentage: .8614
Years: 1999-2017
Sport: Girls basketball

82.   Doc Dougherty
School: Garden City (N.Y.)
Record: 565-91
Winning Percentage: .8613
Years: 1978-2008
Sport: Boys lacrosse

83.   Vincent Meyer
School: Bancroft St. John's (Iowa)
Record: 1,105-179
Winning Percentage: .86059
Years: 1935-41, 1946-81
Sport: Baseball

84.   Gary Adams
School: Crescent (Iva, S.C.)
Record: 1,043-169
Winning Percentage: .86056
Years: 1977-2019
Sport: Softball

85.   Tom Moore
School: Prosser (Wash.)
Record: 234-38
Winning Percentage: .8603
Years: 1986-2008
Sport: Football

86.   Bobby Keith
School: Clay County (Manchester, Ky.)
Record: 767-125
Winning Percentage: .8599
Years: 1971-1999
Sport: Boys basketball

87.   Laurice Hunter
School: Evergreen (Colo.)
Record: 503-82
Winning Percentage: .8598
Years: 1972-95
Sport: Volleyball

88.   Charles Womack
School: Hawley (Texas)
Record: 674-110
Winning Percentage: .8597
Years: 1947-68
Sport: Girls basketball

89.   Monte Kohler
School: O'Dea (Seattle)
Record: 347-56-2
Winning Percentage: .8593
Years: 1985-present
Sport: Football

90.   Don Richardson
School: Madison Central (Richmond, Ky.)
Record: 952-157
Winning Percentage: .85843
Years: 1959-93
Sport: Baseball

91.   Murl Bowen
School: Asher (Okla.)
Record: 2,115-349
Winning Percentage: .85836
Years: 1960-98
Sport: Baseball

92.   Bill Cherpak
School: Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Hills, Pa.)
Record: 284-47-0
Winning Percentage: .8580
Years: 1995-present
Sport: Football

93.   Mike Turro
School: Monroe Campus (Bronx, N.Y.)
Record: 1,369-227
Winning Percentage: .8578
Years: 1978-present
Sport: Baseball

94.   Nick Hyder
School: Valdosta (Ga.)
Record: 302-48-5
Winning Percentage: .85775
Years: 1968-1995
Sport: Football

95.   Claude Simpson
School: Northeast Nodaway (Ravenwood, Mo.)
Record: 633-105
Winning Percentage: .85772
Years: 1962-91
Sport: Girls basketball

96.   Kathy Blackman
School: Baker (Mont.)
Record: 318-53
Winning Percentage: .8571
Years: 1974-2010
Sport: Football

98.   Tony Adams
School: Newman Catholic (Mason City, Iowa)
Record: 610-102
Winning Percentage: .85674
Years: 1998-2016
Sport: Baseball

99.   Al Woolard
School: Lawrence (Kan.)
Record: 263-39-12
Winning Percentage: .85669
Years: 1934-1968
Sport: Football

100.  Billy Evans
School: Leon (Jewett, Texas)
Record: 1,079-181
Winning Percentage: .8563
Years: 1958-2000
Sport: Volleyball