Mt. Hope High School girls' soccer coach Kerri Ferreira Giarrusso was among a host of fellow instructors and referees honored recently by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League for their efforts during the previous, 2023-24 term.

Ferreira and her peers, both on the sidelines and in the field of play, were recognized in their respective sports as the National Federation of State High School Associations Rhode Island Coaches and Officials of the Year awards.

The NFSHSA annually recognizes coaches and officials around the country for their "outstanding service and unselfish devotion to interscholastic athletics."

Coaches are chosen based upon their "performance on and off the field and the positive work they have done with the athletes in their program."

Officials "must exemplify the highest standards of ethical conduct, moral character and carry the endorsement of their respective state high school association. They also shall have made a recent significant contribution to high school officiating in their state."

The RIIL recognized the NFSHSA 2023-24 Coaches and Officials of the Year during halftime of the Girls's Open State Basketball Tournament championship game at the Ryan Center Sunday, March 16, in Kingston.

Ferreira's Huskies finished with a solid 7-5-4 record during the 2023 Division I regular season, then made an impressive run to the state championship game where the Huskies fell to unbeaten Cumberland, 3-1, for the title. The Clippers finished that fall with a gaudy 17-0-2 mark.