Caney Creek High School debate coaches, Joseph Collatos and Stephen Green, have been recognized by the National Speech & Debate Association for their contributions to students and the activity.
Both received the Don Crabtree Distinguished Service Gold Key Award, recognizing coaches who serve the debate community through hosting tournaments, writing articles for NSDA’s publication and/or recruiting new schools.
Collatos and Green have coached the team together since 2016 where they have hosted UIL spring district meets, policy debate district meets, congress regional meets and UIL invitational meets.
“It’s certainly nice for the two of us to be recognized for helping others and, frankly, there are a ton of people who contribute to our work,” Green said. “We host quite a few tournaments and are more than willing to pitch in to help others at theirs. It’s important for coaches to make sure the wheels keep turning so that everyone gets the benefit; otherwise, we collectively fail the kids who have been prepping for weeks or months.”
Collatos was also named a Diamond Coach. To earn a Diamond Award, a coach must be a member of the NSDA for at least five years and earns 15,000 points from student participation and success.
“There are so many talented coaches that have received the Diamond Award and to be a part of that club is an honor,” Collatos said. “I would not have been able to achieve this distinction without the hard work and dedication of the students of the Caney Creek Debate Team, as well as my co-coach Stephen Green.”
Collatos and Green have collectively coached 88 UIL medalists including 15 district champions, 23 state qualifiers, dozens of national qualifiers and a fourth-place finish at the national tournament in extemporaneous debate — the first appearance by any Conroe ISD school on the national results stage in an individual event.
"I am very proud of both Mr. Collatos and Mr. Green for their outstanding work in speech and debate," Principal Dr. Jeff Stichler said. "Both have put in countless hours of work outside of their work days to ensure that our CCHS speech and debate program is top notch in every way. Both men are very deserving of these accolades."
Head coach Joseph Collatos works with debate students at the NSDA district qualifier at West Hardin High School in February 2021.
“Our Diamond Award winners provide access to the life changing benefits of speech and debate for thousands of students,” NSDA Executive Director J. Scott Wunn said. “We are proud to recognize these educators for their service, and thank them for their hard work.”
Coach Stephen Green works with Baylee Cammack prepping for extemporaneous debate at the 2023 national tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. Cammack went on to place fourth out of more than 1,100 students — the largest event in tournament history to that point.
The NSDA, founded in 1925, is the national honor society for speech and debate students and educators. Its service and coaching awards are among the highest recognitions available to members of the organization.