Coach of the Year: Chris Orr of Rosemount

Preparation is everything for coaches and teams looking to capture a state championship. They scout and study and plan for every eventuality, but even a seasoned veteran like Chris Orr slips up from time to time. On opening day at the high school State Tournament last week, Coach Orr forgot to order the bus! Not to worry. Just like they do every game on the court, the Irish adjusted, went to plan B, made it to Williams Arena on time and won the basketball game. Four days later they were Class 4A State Champions after a dramatic 63-62 victory over top-seeded Hopkins. Now, as we begin handing out our Prep Girls Hoops post-season awards, the choice for Coach of the Year is an obvious one: Chris Orr.   “Nobody is more deserving than Coach Orr,” said junior [player_tooltip player_id='630245' first='Gianna' last='Carpentier'] upon learning of the award. “The countless hours he puts into the program is really special.”   Rosemount's dominant player [player_tooltip player_id='578467' first='Amisha' last='Ramlall'] agrees. “Absolutely! He is one of the best coaches I've ever had, and he is one of the main reasons why I'm in the place I am today,” said the University of Minnesota commit. “He coaches with such love for the game, and he fights for his players.”   After leading the Irish to the State Tournament in 2021, 2022 and 2024, last year was a bit of a downer for Rosemount. The team finished 15-14 – not great by their lofty standards – but this year's roster was bolstered by the return of [player_tooltip player_id='656331' first='Isla' last='Silk'] and [player_tooltip player_id='478366' first='Riley' last='Ang'] from long-term injuries. Then Carpentier transferred in from Farmington and her presence was a big difference-maker.   The 5'10 floor general is a Top 25 prospect in Minnesota's Class of 2027, a high-IQ tactician with superior skills and a great feel for the game. Helping the newcomer fit in on an already deep roster of home-grown talent would prove to be one of Orr's most important accomplishments this season. “He instilled so much confidence in me to be a leader on the court,” Gianna said. “He made me feel welcomed immediately, and made not just me but everyone in the program feel valued. He cares so much about all of us, and I speak for everybody when I say we are lucky to have him at Rosemount.”   When Amisha, her twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='630243' first='Arshia' last='Ramlall'] and younger sister [player_tooltip player_id='716527' first='Ashna' last='Ramlall'] were working their way into the Irish lineup as middle schoolers, Orr did the same thing. The veterans were welcoming, the coaching staff was patient, and the long-term benefits are obvious. At the State Tournament, Amisha became the program's all-time leading scorer as the school captured its first girls basketball state title.   “He is very passionate about the game, and he dedicates so much time towards his players,” Amisha said. “He always makes sure we are prepared for our opponent, and he makes sure we know it, as well. Not only does he care about us as players but also as people outside of basketball. He's someone I know I can always count on and someone I can always trust.”   We work with a lot of coaches in this business and I can honestly say that Coach Orr is one of my favorites. He's a tremendous tactician who always has a sound game plan. He manages to walk that fine line between driving his players to be their best and caring about them as human beings. He always has times to promote and support his players. Like me, Chris survived a massive heart attack. It may have been a miracle but Orr has made the most of his second chance, going on to excel as a basketball coach and leader of young women.   “Over the course of the season he has done a phenomenal job of breaking down weaknesses of the other team and exploiting our strengths against them offensively,” Carpentier said of Orr and his coaching staff that includes Stephanie Johnson (McWilliams), Joe Early, Liz Carpentier and Erik Ostlund.   “At practice he's always ensuring we are pushing to be our best whether it's tough love, words of encouragement or just a pat on the back,” Ramlall said. “On the bus he is just making sure we are locked in and also letting us be kids and have fun.”   With 14 seasons in the books, and a state championship in the trophy case, Orr's record at Rosemount stands at 255 wins and 148 losses. Long after those numbers fade into history, the relationships forged and lessons learned along the way will be what Gianna and Amisha and the rest of the Irish will remember. That's what coaching is all about.   HONORABLE MENTIONS   Kevin Waldo – Northome/Kelliher   It's not easy coaching players from a pair of tiny towns in rural Minnesota. With very few athletes to draw from, and limited resources to play beyond the local area, Coach Waldo has had to do it all. He's worked tirelessly to develop his athletes, rally support from the community, and give the kids opportunities to compete with stronger opponents around the state. Getting the Mustangs to the State Tournament is an incredible accomplishment under the circumstances. We have a feeling they will be back.   Hannah Clark – Hillcrest Lutheran Academy kids   Coach Clark was a star at Fergus Falls High School, played at the highest levels of AAU with [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] and then at the University of Iowa. In other words, she knows a thing or two about what it takes to be great. Now she's passing along those lessons learned to talented young group of athletes at a small Christian school in Fergus Falls. We've been watching the evolution of [player_tooltip player_id='653851' first='Ella' last='Knutson'], [player_tooltip player_id='565313' first='Elsa' last='Retzlaff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1110548' first='Elin' last='Retzlaff'] over the past couple of years. It's clear they are in very good hands.   Andy Bromeling – Rochester Mayo   When Bromeling arrived at Mayo in the fall of 2021 he developed a plan to help the two-time state championship girls basketball program return to prominence. The challenge was scheduling tougher opponents so that the Spartans were better prepared to beat the best. He did that. Once his roster included 2028 standouts [player_tooltip player_id='908260' first='Maggie' last='Dyer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='806429' first='Amelia' last='Mills'], anything was possible. Mayo finished two points short of a berth in the Class 4A championship game, falling 65-64 to Rosemount. Next year they just might raise the trophy.   Top photo: Rosemount coach Chris Orr (far left) celebrated the team's Section 3AAAA championship on March 5.

Preparation is everything for coaches and teams looking to capture a state championship. They scout and study and plan for every eventuality, but even a seasoned veteran like Chris Orr slips up from time to time. On opening day at the high school State Tournament last week, Coach Orr forgot to order the bus! Not to worry. Just like they do every game on the court, the Irish adjusted, went to plan B, made it to Williams Arena on time and won the basketball game. Four days later they were Class 4A State Champions after a dramatic 63-62 victory over top-seeded Hopkins. Now, as we begin handing out our Prep Girls Hoops post-season awards, the choice for Coach of the Year is an obvious one: Chris Orr.