ECHO — Echo football coach Thomas VanNice admits he needs to check his email more often.

He had no idea he had been selected as the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association 1A six-man football coach of the year until he got a call on April 16.

“I didn’t know,” he said. “I don’t check my email that often. I guess I should. I appreciate it a lot, but I don’t like it just being me. Our whole staff puts everything into it.”

Joining VanNice on the OACA coaching list are McLoughlin boys soccer coach Jose Garcia, and Heppner assistant boys basketball coach Ken Grieb.

In addition, longtime Heppner assistant football coach Les Payne will receive an honor for his 55 years of coaching service.

The coaches will be honored at the OACA annual banquet May 18 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.

VanNice led the Cougars to the school’s first state football title on Nov. 25, with a 47-40 victory over Joseph. Echo finished the year with a 9-3 record after starting the season 1-3.

Garcia led the Pioneers to the 3A/2A/1A state title on Nov. 11, with a 3-1 victory over Westside Christian.

“I was surprised,” Garcia said of the award. “I totally don’t even think about it, to be honest. It’s nice to be recognized for what we do.”

Garcia said he found out about the honor via an email he received last week.

“Someone sent an email that I had won and would receive a plaque at Autzen Stadium,” he said. “I think I won once before. It might have been after our first championship. It’s been awhile.”

After a 1-1 tie with powerhouse Catlin Gabel to start the season, Mac-Hi won its next 18 games in a row to win their first state title since 2007. The Pioneers allowed just 10 goals in 19 games, and had 13 shutouts.

Grieb, a wheat farmer, has been the Heppner boys assistant basketball coach for 18 years. The past 14 under Jeremy Rosenbalm, and for David Norton and Forrest McKinnis before that.

“I was incredibly surprised, humbled and honored,” Grieb said. “It’s nice once in a while to get a pat on the back. I have gotten a lot of texts and messages on Facebook.”

Heppner Athletic Director Greg Grant said assistants like Grieb are valuable to any program.

“Anyone who has a clue, realizes it’s a program,” Grant said. “They are sustainable and last a long time. All coaches working in a program make it a working system. He is a wise, even-keeled person who you can rely on day in and day out. You cannot understate the value of an assistant. He spoils the kids.”

Grieb is the man behind the curtain when it comes to the Mustangs. He does everything from laundry to making sure they have a spare uniform and extra socks on game day.

“At times, I joke that Rosenbalm and I are married,” Grieb said. “I think that helps us get things done for the kids. I just try and do everything else so Jeremy can just coach and not worry about anything. Last year, I decided to keep track of how many loads of laundry I did. It was 153. But I don’t worry about the money or the loads of laundry. I just do it.”

Grieb also makes sure the assistant coaches at the 2A state basketball tournament get their 15 seconds of fame.

“I’ve been announcing the state tournament for 22 years,” he said. “I always meet with the coaches and I make sure I get the assistant coaches’ names to announce.”

Payne, 78, who was Heppner’s head football coach for a short time many years ago, has been Grant’s assistant for the past 34 years.

“When I came to Heppner in 1990, they said your assistant has 13 year of experience,” Grant said. “I said, ‘Why isn’t he the head coach?’ He is the ultimate assistant. He makes sure everything is done and ready. He is wise. He is the line coach and defense coach, and a very patient person to deal with me.”

It’s coaches like Payne that Grieb admires.

“He loves being an assistant,” Grieb said. “I just watch what Les does and emulate him. It has been an amazing run.”