Bilowitz Named National Soccer Coach of the Year

Coach Lou Bilowitz of La Canada High was named coach of the year Friday by the National Soccer Coaches’ Assn. of America at its annual convention in Philadelphia.

Bilowitz, who has compiled a 168-12-20 record in 8 1/2 seasons with the Spartans, won the award in High School Division II.

Brian Stevens of Centerville (Ohio) High won the Division I award.

“I’m not the best coach in our region, let alone the country,” said Bilowitz, whose team was awarded the high school national championship for the 1995 winter/spring rating period by the NSCAA.

“I never played the game so there are guys like Mike Kodama at Burroughs that are much more knowledgeable. I run a good program and love the kids a lot so they’re motivated to play hard. But to claim to be the best high school coach in the country is ludicrous.”

Bilowitz, 48, guided La Canada to Southern Section titles in the 1988-89 and 1994-95 seasons. Last season’s team was 25-0, and the Spartans’ string of consecutive victories stands at 39.

“They announced our program’s record and everyone went ‘Wow,’ ” Bilowitz said. “That’s an honor for all the kids who have played at La Canada in the last eight years.”