05/29/2026
Congratulations to our Knott County Community Foundation Chair Dustin Combs on being named the National Speech and Debate Association’s National Administrator of the Year.
This well-deserved honor recognizes his years of dedication, leadership, and tireless support of speech and debate in Knott County and across Kentucky. We are proud to celebrate this outstanding achievement and grateful for all he does for our community. Bravo, Mr. Combs!
Knott County's Dustin Combs named National Speech and Debate Association National Administrator of the Year!
In March in Danville at the District Tournament, Knott County Schools administrator Dustin Combs was named the Kentucky District's Administrator of the Year by the Kentucky National Speech and Debate Association, an honor which moved him along to the national competition. KHSSL has learned that he is this year's National winner! His nominator, Knott Central High School Coach Bria Stacy, was able to call Dustin and break the news to him herself by reading him her nomination letter. As he was her high school coach at KCCHS, it's been an extra special celebration for all involved!
After leaving coaching and classroom teaching (though he's always kept his hand in coaching, even if unofficial), Dustin has held several administrative positions, mostly and currently in his native Knott County Schools. He is a tireless promoter of and advocate for speech and debate in Kentucky -- from pushing for each of the Knott County schools to field a team to arranging hotel rooms at state and national meets for all sorts of Kentuckians -- and he has served many years as both a Regional Manager and as a member of the Board of Directors for KHSSL and even ran the Senior State meet in 2019 when we lacked a state executive director.
Dustin will be recognized in the Awards ceremonies of the NSDA Grand Nationals being held in June in Richmond, Virginia. He is no stranger to speech honors as a past coach of state championship teams (Senior Speech 2004 and 2005) plus numerous state champion students, and he himself was the 1987 Junior State Champion in Storytelling for Hindman Elementary School! KHSSL welcomed Dustin into its Hall of Fame in 2010. Today, we celebrate him once again!
Bravo, Mister Combs!