Coach Joe receives PGA America’s Person of the Year award

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By Saveria Farino

Coach Joe Sawaia playing golf for the Southern Nevada Golf Association. Photo courtesy of Southern Nevada Golf Association Flickr
Coach Joe Sawaia playing golf for the Southern Nevada Golf Association. Photo courtesy of Southern Nevada Golf Association Flickr

Golf coach and physical education department chair, Joe Sawaia, won the high-ranking Southwest Section Professional Golf Association of America Person of the Year award in January at the annual Las Vegas Country Club dinner.

“I was honored and proud to accept the citizen of the year award from the Southern Nevada chapter of the PGA southwest section. I am really proud to represent Coronado,” Sawaia said.

Sawia is one of Southern Nevada’s best amateur golfers. He has been playing golf for 22 years and has coached Coronado’s golf program for 15 years.  

“Coach Sawaia has inspired me to better myself because of his motivational attitude. I think it’s really cool that he won such a prestigious award that represents how good he is and how good our school is,” Emmanuel Gutierrez, sophomore, said.

He has led the boys’ golf team to three-straight titles between 2010 and 2012 and led the girls to their second-straight championship this fall. Additionally, Sawaia has helped the program and over a dozen of its players expand their skills and move on to play at the Division I level.

“Coach Sawaia acts like a regular guy, works hard every season, and prepares for every season like it’s his first season. He works really hard and is very good at what he does. He is the guy to represent our school,” Mr. Piccininni, principal, said.