Homewood-Flossmoor girls track coach Tywon Green was honored by the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association at the organization’s annual clinic Jan. 9 in Itasca. He was named the Class 3A Women’s Coach of the Year after leading the Vikings to the state championship last spring.

“The last three years, we’ve put in a lot of work to rebuild this program back to where it’s supposed to be. We went through a lot of ups and downs,” Green said. “It’s been a lot of work for not only our girls but our whole staff, as well, so I see this as more of a team award and a staff award more than for myself.” 

Senior sprinter Mariyah Robinson, who was also recognized as the Sprinter of the Year, credited Green with her growth in the sport, transforming from a kid who was fast – a “street runner” – into a future Division I college sprinter. She said Green was always available to put in extra time before or after practice with her. 

Robinson signed with Florida and will run in the SEC.

“It was so special to be there with Coach Green. He’s such a good coach. You could talk to him about anything, about the team, about anything outside of track. He’s such a good person,” she said. “Him being there that night, I congratulated him and we had a good time. I really appreciate Coach Green.” 

That’s part of what makes a good coach, Green said. Knowing how to read a kid and what you can do to give them confidence and motivate them, sometimes even individually. Green said it’s important for a coach to develop the trust of his team.

Sometimes that means talking to them about things outside of track, be it problems at home or at school or with a boyfriend. He doesn’t want to overwhelm them with track.

That relationship is key to his coaching philosophy. 

“It’s also just knowing when to say ‘I don’t know it all’ and being willing to keep learning and growing as a person,” Green said. “People don’t know it because we keep it all to ourselves, but it’s a lot of work, just the everyday grind of being a coach. Any coach that wins this award deserves this award.” 

The Vikings won the state title before they were expected to. The team was young. Not a single point was scored at the state meet by a senior. 

Green’s guidance was recognized by the coaches who voted for him. He said he didn’t do any politicking.

“I just think the numbers speak for themselves. When I’m voting, I look at the (state) champion and if they have this, this, this and this, they get my vote,” Green said. “If your team went out there and did their job, you have to vote for them.”