Nose Wins Regional Coach of the Year for Third Time
Northwest College (Powell, Wyo.) rodeo coach and PRCA Gold Card member Del Nose won his third Rodeo Coach of the Year award for the Big Sky Region earlier this month. Nose, who coached 2011 World Champion Bull Rider Shane Proctor, saw his team finish the 2016-17 season ranked fourth in the nation and top in their region – a noteworthy accomplishment as NWC is a two-year school up against four-year universities.
“It’s not surprising he’s coach of the year,” said Proctor, a 2004-05 alumni of Nose’s team.
Winners for each region’s coach of the year award are decided by the coaches and two students from each school within that region. Nose won the Big Sky Region’s Coach of the Year award in 2010 and 2014, and was the runner-up for the national Coach of the Year award in 2014 as well.
“He was very dedicated and passionate about the sport and he knew a lot – and what he didn’t know, he would bring in the personnel to help us learn,” said Proctor, a five-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER. “There was all the stock you wanted to get on, and a very rodeo atmosphere. And, he emphasized the importance of schooling for not just the next step rodeo-wise, but also academically in the business world.”
Nose is a five-time qualifier for the Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo in bareback riding and steer wrestling and won the 1976 Montana Circuit steer wrestling championship.
“I wasn’t expecting it – I was pleased and surprised, but I was more focused on the kids,” Nose said.
The NWC team is sending six students to the College National Finals Rodeo in June. Among the bunch is 20-year-old PRCA permit holder Bubba Boots from St. Anthony, Idaho, who topped the Big Sky Region’s all-around, steer wrestling and team roping standings; and ranked second in tie-down roping.
PRCA rookie Caleb McMillan, 20, of Soap Lake, Wash., won the tie-down roping and was third in the all-around and bull riding. Permit holder Matt Williams, 19, was the top team roping heeler for the Big Sky Region. Meanwhile, their teammates Weston Mann and Emilio Reyna were third in the team roping heading and heeling respectively.
“Talk about a special group of boys – they were amazing,” Nose said, noting that four of his CNFR qualifiers are freshmen and the other two are sophomores. “There’s a few on our team that could be NFR qualifiers someday. We’ve got Bubba Boots and Matt Williams, they are tough to beat, and then we got Caleb McMillan and he’s dedicated and a tough athlete, too – they could have a shot at the NFR if they put their mind to it.
“We’re just looking forward to the (college) Finals and can’t get our hopes up too high. When Shane and them went to it, we ended up fifth that year, so I’m hanging back to see how the dice rolls out.”
Courtesy of PRCA