AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year Award.(America Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus)

When AFLAC decided to honor the real heroes of sports in America, they instantly decided to pay tribute to the nation's top high school and college assistant coaches. They're the men and women ! who toil, frequently with little recognition, to make certain their programs are the best that they can be--while having a positive effect on the young athletes in their charge. Nominations arrived from head coaches, other assistants, players, coaches, fans, the media and, in at least several cases, the coaches' own children. The selection process wasn't easy, but here they are: The 500 AFLAC National Assistant Coaches of the Year:

ALASKA

Roy Bellamy

East HS

Frank Ostanik

University of Alaska-Fairbanks

Rusty Osborne

University of Alaska-Anchorage

ALABAMA

J. David Jones III

Homewood HS

Roland Lee Jones

Brantley HS

Mike Mitchell

Auburn University

Chris Baxtor

Robert E Lee HS

Floyd Mathews

Sidney Lanier Senior HS

Martin Germany

Robert E. Lee HS

Les Koenning

University of Alabama

O.K. Bryant IV

Hillcrest HS

Matthew Matt

Auburn University

ARKANSAS

Checola Seals

U. of Central Arkansas

Coach Lewis Wray

Russellville HS

Kevin Peoples

Arkansas State University

Monty McCurley

Izard County HS

Ryke Dismuke

University of Central Arkansas

Ran Hornbook

Lakeside HS

Gray Haynes

Harmony Grove--Camden

Billy McBride

Izard County HS

ARIZONA

Terry Fair

Highland HS

Meg Matetich

Xavier College Prep

Hugh Bell

Yavapai College

Shannon Nelson

Greenway HS

Bob Levardo

Sunrise Mtn. HS

Mike Calise

Arizona State University

Burton tingle

Sahuarita HS

Tom Dorgan

Sahuarita HS

Tom Tucker

Trevor Browne HS

Mark Gronewald

Ironwood HS

"Soapy" Quida

Tolleson Union HS

CALIFORNIA

Dave Basso

Marin Catholic HS

Lynn Reed

Grant HS

Don Butcher

Saddleback College

Steve Yamasaki

Alameda HS

Rick Arcuri

San Mateo HS

Dave Mercer

San Lorenzo Valley High School

Russell Neal

Paradise HS

Tim Kruger

Las Lamas HS

David Vieira

Manta Vista HS

Greg Williams

Ygnacio Valley High

Paul Cochran

Petaluma HS

Nate Odom

Hamilton Union HS

Steven W. Bridges

Escondido HS

David Mendoza

Crescenta Valley HS

Paul Sauter

Chaminade College Prep

Al Gamboa

Lowell HS

Darryl Smith

Westlake HS

James Arquilla

Wilson HS

Monica Trainer

Univ. of California, Riverside

Jim Holcomb

Simpson College

Randy Reyne

Sheldon HS

Jim Noble

Folsom HS

Scott Snow

Long Beach City College

David Poerschke

Millikan HS

Alan LaMotta

University City HS

Walter Ulrich

Sacramento City College

Lance Cornell

Turlock HS

Brett Pollack

College of San Mateo

Marty Spaulding

Mission Viejo HS

Len Gann

San Marcos HS

Pieter Lehrer

Stanford University

Richard Diaz

Hoover HS

John Vredenburgh

Peninsula HS

Brian Irvin

Loyola Marymount University

Brad Agoos

University of California

John…