Buffalo Grove's Siegal named coach of the year

Buffalo Grove High School cheerleading coach Jeff Siegal, the winningest high school cheerleading coach in state history, was named National Coach of the Year for spirit by a national coaches group.

Siegal, who has led Buffalo Grove and Elk Grove high schools to a collective eight state championships, was recognized this week by the National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Association.

"This is an unbelievable honor that I share with my coaching staff and all the student-athletes that I have coached over the years," Siegal said in a news release. "It has been a pleasure to have been given the opportunity to coach and work with the incredible athletes over these years. To receive an award of this magnitude, is just overwhelming."

Siegel led Buffalo Grove's coed varsity cheerleading squad to state championships in 2013, 2015 and 2016, and Elk Grove's team to five consecutive championships starting with the inaugural IHSA state finals in 2006.

He became Buffalo Grove's head coach in 1995 before stepping away to coach Northwestern University's spirit squad in 2001. He returned to Northwest Suburban High School District 214 in 2004 to coach at Elk Grove. In 2010, he came back to Buffalo Grove.

Siegal is among 23 high school coaches across the country that were honored for the 2016-17 school year. The organization, based in Indianapolis, has been handing out coaching honors since 1982.