LIHU‘E — Michelle Toy, a 2006 alumnus of Kapa‘a High School, was recently recognized as California State Coach of the Year by the National High School Strength Coaches Association during a dinner at the NHSSCA National Conference in Chicago.
“The moment I was nominated for State Coach of the Year for California, I felt incredibly seen,” Toy said. “As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I often feel women get overlooked, so this nomination and selection was very validating. As a kid, I competed in sports year-round and know I wanted my career to be sports-related as well. So, to be recognized just 11 years into my career for something that I am so passionate about is surreal.”
Toy’s passion for sports started early with American Youth Soccer Organization play and continued to Kapa‘a High School, playing soccer, cross-country, basketball and volleyball, said Judy Toy, her mother. “She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, in kinesiology and rehabilitative science,” Judy Toy said.
Michelle Toy started her career in San Jose, California, as an athletic trainer at Santa Clara University, and was the strength coach at Woodside Priory High School. In 2012, she started her position as strength and conditioning coach and faculty at Bellarmine College Preparatory, where she continues.
“She fosters an atmosphere in the weight room that makes it a desired destination,” said Chris Meyercord, the Bellarmine College Preparatory president, who said the NHSSCA attributes are certainly evident in Toy’s passion for health and fitness and her positive, enthusiastic spirit.
“The students know they’ll be in a positive, encouraging environment where everyone treats the faculty and one another with respect, and motivates each other to become more fit,” Meyercord said.
Patrick McCrystle, a Bellarmine teacher and head coach of Bellarmine’s track and field and cross-country programs, said “She has taken the position of strength and conditioning coach and turned it into a school-wide position with far-reaching positive effects for our entire 1,650-person student body.”
