Ted Belch Coach and Educator of the Year

We are forever indebted to Ted Belch for helping us to establish the Golden Desert Tournament as one of the premier high school debate tournaments on the west coast.  To recognize his contribution to our tournament, and to the high school debate community in general, we are proud award the “Ted Belch Coach and Educator of the Year” to another deserving recipient. In 2016 we were honored to select Chuck Ballingall of Damien High School as the inaugural recipient of the Ted Award. In 2017, Tim Alderete  of the Meadows School received the “Ted,” and in 2018 Devon Reece of McQueen High School received the “Ted.” We look forward to honoring another amazing coach as the "Ted Belch Coach and Educator of the Year” in 2019.

Award nominations submitted Friday January 18, 2019 by coaches, debaters, and debate alumni will all be accepted and be evaluated by the Golden Desert tournament awards committee. Nomination letters may be sent to Dr. Jake Thompson by email at jacob.thompson@unlv.edu with the words “TED AWARD NOMINATION” in the subject heading. Nominees should be active coaches in competitively successful high school debate programs who are committed to student education and who are coaching mentors.