Ironwood’s Tim Beck and Phoenix Xavier College Prep’s Barb Chura were recently named the National Federation of State High School Associations Girls and Boys National Coaches of the Year, respectively, for the 2023-24 school year.

Both coaches beat out seven other national finalists representing girls and boys soccer programs from around the country.

Chura has led the Xavier Preparatory School girls soccer team to four consecutive 6A state championships. In her 22 years at Xavier Prep, Chura has won nine state titles and compiled an overall record of 288-66-26.

In 30 years as the boys soccer coach at Ironwood, Beck has led his teams to the state tournament 29 times. Ironwood entered the 2024-25 season as the defending 5A state champions having earned Beck’s fifth AIA title in his career last season.

In addition to Beck’s five state championships, Ironwood has been runner-up four times. Beck’s 490 career wins rank second in state history, including a state record 26 wins during its 2006 state championship season. Beck has been named state coach of the year five times and region coach of the year 14 times.

In 2016, he was inducted into the Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. In addition, Beck has organized the annual Eagle Soccer Clinic for 30 years and was the Pride of Peoria recipient from the Peoria Unified School District in 2024.

The NFHS, which has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982, honors coaches in the top 10 girls sports and top 10 boys sports (by participation numbers). The NFHS also recognizes a spirit coach as a separate award category.