Worth Firecrackers head coach Tony Rico, along with assistants John Drakes and Don Minard, have been named the 2007 NFCA Travel Ball National Coaching Staff of the Year, the association announced Tuesday. 

Rico, Drakes and Minard will be honored at the 2007 NFCA National Convention in Las Vegas after guiding their team to the 2007 ASA Gold national championship following a second-place finish in 2006. 

The Firecrackers finished the year 103-21-4 and won the 2007 Canada Cup Futures title. The squad also finished third at the Colorado Fireworks tournament and tied for fifth in the Champions Cup Junior Olympic showcase.