Pinnacle Canyon Coach Honored as 1A Coach/Advisor of the Year

Mark Stuckenschneider recognized for his service and contributions to high school activities

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Mark Stuckenschneider, a teacher and coach at Pinnacle Canyon Academy in Utah, was named the recipient of the 2025 Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) 1A Coach/Advisor of the Year award. Stuckenschneider has served in various roles at the school, including as an elementary teacher, elementary principal, secondary vice principal, athletic director, and coach of the high school cross-country teams.

Why it matters

The UHSAA Distinguished Service Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to high school activities in Utah. Stuckenschneider's recognition highlights the important role that teachers and coaches play in shaping the lives of young student-athletes and preparing them for success as adults.

The details

Stuckenschneider, known as "Mr. S." or "Coach Mark" on campus, has been teaching and coaching at Pinnacle Canyon Academy since 2003. He has coached the school's high school track and field, middle school girls' basketball, high school girls' basketball, and middle school and high school cross-country teams. Under his leadership, the high school girls' cross-country team won the Region 19 championship in 2015, 2016, and 2020, and the boys' cross-country team won the Region 19 championship in 2019 and 2020.

  • Stuckenschneider was honored at an awards luncheon hosted by the UHSAA Executive Committee on January 14, 2026.
  • Stuckenschneider's high school girls' cross-country team won the Region 19 championship in 2015, 2016, and 2020.
  • Stuckenschneider's high school boys' cross-country team won the Region 19 championship in 2019 and 2020.

The players

Mark Stuckenschneider

A teacher and coach at Pinnacle Canyon Academy in Utah, known as "Mr. S." or "Coach Mark" on campus. He has served in various roles at the school, including as an elementary teacher, elementary principal, secondary vice principal, athletic director, and coach of the high school cross-country teams.

Pinnacle Canyon Academy

A school in Utah where Stuckenschneider has been teaching and coaching since 2003.

Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA)

The organization that awarded Stuckenschneider the 1A Coach/Advisor of the Year award, which honors individuals for their service and contributions to high school activities in Utah.

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What they’re saying

“I never set out thinking of my involvement as 'great service,' I simply enjoy working with and being around young people… I hope to model a love of athletics and instill the important life lessons that come with being part of a team. I recognize that the students I work with today will be tomorrow's leaders. In the future, one of the kids on a former team will be the doctor I visit in the ER, one will be the mayor of the city I live in, and one will help me plan my retirement. I want our community to be better moving forward, and I am responsible for part of that development.”

— Mark Stuckenschneider (castlecountryradio.com)

“Success on a high school team helps prepare teens to be successful adults. They learn to show up on time, and that being prepared often means arriving early. They learn to get along with others, even if their personalities differ, to achieve a common goal. Perhaps most importantly, they learn to take direction and change their behavior for the better, often in very challenging and stressful situations. Coaching is a natural extension of teaching, and high school activities play a vital role in shaping teenagers into responsible, engaged, and contributing members of our community.”

— Mark Stuckenschneider (castlecountryradio.com)

The takeaway

Stuckenschneider's recognition as the 1A Coach/Advisor of the Year highlights the important role that dedicated teachers and coaches play in shaping the lives of young student-athletes and preparing them for success as adults. His commitment to teaching, mentoring, and coaching has had a lasting impact on the Pinnacle Canyon Academy community and the broader Utah high school sports landscape.