Detroit High School Sports Awards Honors Rick Gadwa

Rick Gadwa is Honored as 2022 John Herrington Coach of the Year Award 

As a Michigan native, Rick Gadwa has deep roots in the Detroit community. Not only is he the current Manager of Operations & Programming at the TPH Detroit location, but he also developed and led the Michigan Hockey Advancement, a preseason education and exposure program designed to help the best high school hockey players compete against other top programs across the county. You’ll also find Rick behind the bench of the Hartland High School varsity boys hockey team as their head coach. 

Rick creates traditions of excellence in each area of his life. That is probably why he led the Harland High School hockey team to their third state championship this past season. His passion and involvement with the athletes in the community go far beyond his job with the high school program. Because of the time and energy he pours into helping each player he interacts with reach their goals and take their talent to the next level, Rick has been honored as the Michigan High School Coach of the Year for all high school sports in the state of Michigan.

Rick attributes who he has become as a coach to the lessons he learned from his own experiences playing sports. 

“My previous coaches taught me that mistakes are going to happen, but the coaches who are ultimately successful don’t let those mistakes define them. I am grateful for the incredible hockey minds I get to be around daily, absorbing their philosophies, and continuing to be a student of the game. This has allowed me to grow as a coach. I still make mistakes and am still growing, but I’ll continue to stay my course and surround myself with great people.” says Coach Gadwa.

We have seen first-hand how dedicated Rick is to the athletes he mentors and coaches and know this honor is well-deserved. “Rick does an amazing job with the [Hartland] program and works tirelessly to help players reach their goals and advance to the next level, not just for his Hartland program, but also at the Center of Excellence in Detroit and through his MHA program with TPH Detroit,” said Dave Sellin, TPH Detroit’s Coordinator of Operations & Programming. Coach Sellin continued “So, a well-deserved honor for a great coach and even better guy.”

“I’m extremely thankful to be recognized for the John Herrington Coach of the Year Award. Even though this award is given to one person, it’s a team award to me. I have the very best assistant coaches in the state. David Sellin, Kevin Carlile, and Tom McCarthy help so much in what we do day in and day out as a program. Without them, our team would not be where we are today. I also have a great support system within our athletic department, specifically our Athletic Director, JD Wheeler, and Athletic Secretary, Liz Streight. They do so much behind the scenes. Lastly, Coach of the Year Awards are won because of the players. This year, we had a very special group that knew how to lead, execute, and handle everything that was thrown their way. I’m very grateful for our army of coaches, staff, and players. This award is theirs, not just mine.”

Rick is a vital part of TPH Detroit. His passion and drive are what make him an incredible leader and coach. We are so proud of Rick and the characteristics that come with the honor of Coach of the Year are something he exudes through his work at TPH, in his coaching, and throughout the management of the Michigan Hockey Advancement. We are grateful to have him on our team!

If you are a Michigan High School Hockey player who wants more information on Michigan Hockey Advancement and would like to be a part of the incredible program Coach Gadwa developed, register for their upcoming tryouts: Grand Rapids | Gaylord | Farmington Hills

If you are an aspiring competitive student-athlete who wants to take your skills to the next level, learn more about TPH Detroit.