Mike Hackett of Munster and Julie Shelton of Mt. Vernon (Fortville) have been chosen as Indiana’s nominees for the National Federation of State High School Associations national basketball coaches of the year.
Hackett, a graduate of Michigan City Elston High School and Franklin College, guided his Munster boys to a 25-1 record in 2010-11 that included sectional, regional and Northwest Crossroads Conference championships. He also was an IBCA District 1 Coach of the Year and was chosen as head coach of the 2011 Indiana Boys All-Stars.
In 11 seasons with the Mustangs, Hackett’s record is 210-52.
His teams have won three consecutive sectionals and regionals in two of the past three seasons. They also were Black Division champions of the Lake Conference in 2004 as well as co-champions of that league in 2006 and 2007. The Mustangs won their fourth consecutive Northwest Crossroads Conference crown this season; Munster is the league’s only champion since it was formed in 2007-08.
Hackett previously was an assistant at Kankakee Valley and Merrillville before accepting the Munster job in 2000-01. He was named IBCA District 1 Coach of the Year in 2003 and the Gary Post-Tribune Coach of the Year in 2009.
Shelton, a graduate of Seymour High School and Butler University, was picked as an NFHS nominee after guiding her Marauders to a 21-2 season that included a sectional title and the championship of the Hoosier Heritage Conference. She was chosen an IBCA District 2 Coach of the Year and the ICGSA District 4 Coach of the Year in 2010-11.
As a player, Shelton was Seymour’s all-time leading scorer (1,564) and rebounder (912) en route to becoming a 1989 Indiana All-Star. At Butler, she scored a school-record 2,018 points, was a four-time first-team all-conference player and was 1993 Midwestern Collegiate Conference Player of the Year. She still owns multiple game, season and career records.
After college, Shelton became a teacher and coach at Mt. Vernon, initially serving as a basketball assistant and head volleyball coach. She was named the basketball head coach for the 1998-99 season guided the Marauders to HHC titles in 2000 and 2001. During Shelton’s tenure, MV also previously won sectionals in 2003 and 2005 plus a regional in 2005.
Shelton previously was the IBCA District 4 Coach of the Year in 2000, and she was head coach for the Indiana Girls All-Stars in 2006. In 13 seasons at MV, her teams have produced a 192-92 record.
