At this point in his life, it takes a great deal to surprise West Lauderdale head baseball coach Jerry Boatner.

During a career that has featured 11 state championships and 25 district titles, Boatner believed he had seen it all.

Perhaps that’s why he was caught off guard two weeks ago.

When the veteran coach answered his phone in early June and heard that a representative from the USA Today was on the other end, he thought he knew the reason behind the conversation.

“I answered the phone and the guy said he was from USA Today, so I figured that maybe our team had finished the season at No. 1,” Boatner said.

His assumption was wrong.

Instead, the voice on the other end of the line informed the West Lauderdale coach that he would be honored as the 2007 USA Today National Coach of the Year.

“When I found out, I was amazed. I didn’t even know they picked a coach of the year,” Boatner said. “This says a lot about the quality of our program and the players we have. This isn’t an individual award because a coach is only as good as his players.”

Boatner’s Coach of the Year Award was announced Thursday as part of USA Today’s annual All-USA Baseball Team.

The award is Boatner’s first national coaching prize after a career spent collecting in-state and regional awards.

“To receive a national



award like this, I just can’t believe it,” Boatner said. “It is a great honor.”

Having amassed a staggering total of 873 wins in 39 seasons, Boatner’s first national award comes on the heels of perhaps his finest season. With a roster boasting nine seniors who signed to play college baseball, Boatner enjoyed his greatest success this season, engineering a sparkling 38-2 season mark, punctuated by the Knights’ first state title since 2001.

“Everything came together for us on the field this year,” Boatner said. “We had a lot of talent, but it seemed like the good Lord was watching out for us a time or two.”