USA Today High School Sports is sponsoring a national competition to determine the best high school boys basketball coach as voted on by fans. It has chosen six active high school basketball coaches in each state and Washington, D.C. after weeks of conversations with media and other state/school officials with expertise.

I.J. Pinkham, coach of the Boothbay Region High School boys' varsity basketball team for the past 38 years, was one of the six Maine coaches chosen for the fan vote. Fans may vote online.

To move on to regional voting, Pinkham must beat out the five other coaches chosen for the honor and state voting ends Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 12 p.m. (E.T.). Voting for the regional coaches will commence on January 22, to be followed by National voting.

Also chosen for the best high school boys basketball coach are David Halligan of Falmouth, Jeff Hart of Camden Hills, Joe Russo of Portland, Mark Karter of Gorham and Tony DiBiase of Scarborough.

There is no limit on how many times an individual can vote, so log on and let's make I.J. Pinkham Maine's best high school boys basketball coach.

Related: Pinkham’s place