“Through his unwavering dedication to student development, school spirit, and faith-based leadership, Coach Labus continues to prepare young men to thrive in college and live out Catholic virtues in all areas of life.” 

“Nathan brings out the best in our students. They want to not so much win, but to do their utmost. Which inevitably leads to them being winners.” 

“This was my first year here at St. Thomas. Coach Labus treated me with kindness and respect from our very first interaction, which made me feel safe and supported from the beginning. He is a pillar of our athletics department and school community at large.”

Every year, the St. Thomas faculty and staff are asked to nominate one of their peers for recognition as Teacher of the Year. The recipient for the 2024-25 school year was Coach Nathan Labus.

“I cannot say enough good things about the man,” Principal Aaron Dominguez (’96) shared. “He is kind, empathetic, thoughtful, and does everything with excellence.”

Labus began his coaching tenure at St. Thomas High School in 1997. Since then, he has coached multiple winning teams in Cross Country and Track and Field, including back-to-back state champions in the latter for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Beyond his athletic successes, Labus leads House Wilson, which has also earned recent back-to-back titles in the annual House Cup competition.

Amidst the honors and achievements, Labus remains humble, kind, and morally motivated. In his own words, here’s what the Teacher of the Year had to share about his journey at St. Thomas.

How does it feel to be recognized as Teacher of the Year, especially after leading your teams to back-to-back state championships?

It feels incredibly humbling. The past couple of years have been a whirlwind—three state championships (back-to-back in Track & Field and one in Cross Country), back-to-back House Cup wins, and now being named Teacher of the Year. None of it would have been possible without the support of our faculty, staff, coaches, and, most importantly, our student-athletes. I feel fortunate to be surrounded by such a strong and committed community that makes achievements like these possible.

In your opinion, what’s the most important quality a great educational leader should have?

Empathy, patience, and understanding. Every student and athlete has their own story and challenges, and great leaders meet them where they are, while guiding them toward who they can become.

If you weren’t a teacher or a coach, what would you be doing? How did you decide this was the career path for you?

If I weren’t teaching or coaching, I’d probably be a fishing guide in Alaska. I actually worked as a guide there for three summers during college, and one of my buddies even went on to open his own lodge there. I’ll admit, I’m sometimes a little jealous of him. But I chose teaching and coaching because I realized my true passion is guiding young people—helping them grow, learn, and achieve. For me, that’s more fulfilling than anything else.

What is the best part of your role?

The best part is guiding students to become the best version of themselves. Watching them set goals, overcome challenges, and discover their potential is the most rewarding part of being at St. Thomas.

If you could give one piece of advice to every student you teach or coach, what would it be?

Plan for your future and take care of the present. Invest 15–25% of everything you earn into a target retirement fund and don’t touch it until you retire—you’ll thank yourself later. Spend time with older people whenever you can; listen to their stories, learn from their wisdom, and make sure they feel heard. Always be kind and caring to everyone you meet. Life is too short to live any other way. And above all, respect and appreciate what you have. Gratitude changes everything.