Minnetonka High School Head Baseball Coach Paul Twenge has been chosen as one of two Class of 2021 inductees to the National High School Baseball Coaches Association (NHSBCA) Hall of Fame.

Twenge has coached at MHS since 2006. Under his leadership, the Skippers were both Lake Conference and Region 2AAA/AAAA champions in 2013 and 2018. Twenge coached the Skippers to a third place finish at the Minnesota State High School League state championship in 2013, and in 2018, the team was runner-up for the state title. The 2018 season also marked Twenge's 900th career win as a head coach, for which he was recognized by the NHSBCA.

"Paul Twenge is a transformational coach who has a great passion for teaching the game of baseball and building relationships with student-athletes," said Ted Schultz, Activities Director at MHS. "He cares for every student who plays for him, and he wants each of them to reach their full potential."

When asked about his favorite part of coaching, Twenge shared that it is the joy he experiences when seeing the success of others. "Without a doubt, [the best part of being a coach] is the interaction with the players and watching their development in the game," said Twenge.

In addition to his teams' successes, Twenge was voted Section 2AAAA Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2018, and in 2018 he earned additional recognition as the American Baseball Coach Association Region 5 Coach of the Year, Minnesota High School 4A Coach of the Year, National High School Athletic Coaches Association Region 5 Baseball Coach of the Year and National DI American Baseball Coaches Association/Diamond Coach of the Year.

To be named to the Hall of Fame is a top honor from the NHSBCA because it means a coach has been a national leader in the sport, shared Twenge. "These types of recognition are amazing because they come from your peer coaches across the country," he said. "I am in this position because at one point Minnetonka High School took a chance on me to help lead the Skipper Baseball program."

Schultz shared that Twenge is truly one of a kind. "I am convinced not a moment goes by when Paul isn't thinking about baseball," said Schultz. "It is his love and passion, and he has been blessed to have a great career influencing students through the game he loves. Paul has had great success at all levels of baseball, and we are very fortunate to have him as our head baseball coach."

Congratulations on this lifetime achievement, Coach Twenge!