By Town Crier Staff Report

Los Altos resident Bill Shine has been named the 2000 West Region Girls Tennis Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Shine coaches both the boys and girls varsity tennis teams at Menlo School in Atherton. Last fall, Shine coached the girls team to the Northern California championship and a top-five national ranking. Last season’s boys team was ranked second in the nation.

Shine’s “contributions to high school athletics are truly deserving of our recognition and thanks,” said Tim Flannery, assistant director of the National Federation Coaches Association.

Shine is the first Menlo coach to earn West Region honors. The region includes the states of California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.

This marks the second coaching honor Shine has received in a year. Last April, he received the California Coaches Association High School Tennis Coach of the Year award.

“Bill Shine exemplifies all the best qualities of a great coach,” said Norm Colb, head of school at Menlo. “He’s passionate about the sport and is committed to giving his athletes a superb experience. His winning teams and successful and self-assured team members are the clearest possible tribute to his genius. We’re enormously lucky to have him at Menlo School.”

Shine coordinates Menlo’s entire tennis program and also works with Menlo Middle School tennis hopefuls.