Coaching Education Awards

Celebrate Coaching Excellence: Nominate Your Peers

Every day, track and field coaches across the country dedicate their time, scientific expertise, and passion to elevating our sport. USATF Coaching Education annually recognizes those outstanding professionals who go above and beyond to shape the future of coaching.

But we need your help to find them! If you know a coach, mentor, or innovator who has made a lasting impact on the coaching community, give them the national recognition they deserve.

What Does a Qualified Nominee Look Like?

Outstanding contributions to USATF Coaching Education can take many forms. Qualified individuals often demonstrate excellence through:

• Advocacy: Offering support, outreach and awareness of coaching education locally, regionally, or nationally.
• Curriculum: Publishing articles, videos, books that strengthen the professionalism of coaching or offer innovation.
• Grassroots Impact: Organizing Run, Jump, Throw or similar programs in their community.
• Teaching and Instruction: Serving as a frequent speaker or contributor at USATF Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 schools.
• Mentorship: Investing in the next generation by providing inspiration, shadowing opportunities, and direction to beginning coaches.
• Service: Maintaining a strong history of volunteer service to coaching education at the Club, Association, or National level.

USATF Coaching Education Award Categories

Find the perfect fit for the outstanding coach you want to recognize:

• Joe Vigil Sports Science Award: Recognizes a coach actively contributing to coaching literature through presentations and publications. This individual successfully integrates scientific techniques into their training methods or has developed innovative ways to apply sport science to athletic performance.
• Ron Buss Service Award: Honors a coach with a distinguished record of service to the profession. This individual selflessly gives their time and talent—serving in leadership roles, strengthening educational curricula, and acting as a trusted mentor whose counsel is sought out by peers.
• Fred Wilt Educator of the Year Award: USATF Coaching Education’s highest annual honor for sustained, exceptional performance. This award recognizes one individual who exemplifies extraordinary national passion and leadership in promoting and advancing USATF Coaching Education.
• Vern Gambetta Young Professional Award: Recognizes a rising coach in the first 10 years of their career who has demonstrated exceptional initiative, passion, and leadership in promoting coaching education nationally.
• Kevin McGill Legacy Award: Honors a veteran coach with 25+ years of dedicated involvement. This award recognizes a lifetime of passion and national leadership in championing the growth of USATF Coaching Education.
• Terry Crawford Distinguished Female in Coaching Award: Celebrates a female coach who has demonstrated an exceptional level of accomplishment, passion and initiative, or serving as a national leader and role model within USATF Coaching Education.
• Level 2 Coaches Rising Star Award: Recognizes a coach who has recently completed a USATF Level 2 School and immediately put those teachings into practice. This award highlights an individual whose sustained, exceptional performance exemplifies the direct impact of the USATF curriculum.

Nomination Deadline

All submissions must be received via the online form below by September 30th. Recipients will be honored at the USATF Annual Meeting.

Questions

Do you have questions about the nomination process or a specific award category? We are here to help. Contact USATF Coaching Education