NATIONAL STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2025 PEER AWARDS

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce the recipients of the organization’s 2025 Peer Awards. These distinctive awards honor professionals around the world for outstanding achievement in their field. Each individual was nominated by the NSCA community and will be formally recognized at the 2025 NSCA National Conference in Kansas City, MO, on July 16–19.

The Personal Trainer of the Year Award recognizes an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®) or Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) for exemplary service to the advancement of the personal training profession. Earning recognition in 2025 is Josh McMillian, PhD, CSCS, RSCC*D.

Josh McMillian is a personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and high school physical education teacher for the School District of Clayton. McMillian is passionate about helping people build confidence, move better, and perform at their best. In addition to working with student-athletes, he supports clients of all ages at the Gateway Region YMCA and teaches future educators as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. McMillian holds a PhD in Teaching and Learning Processes from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and focuses on youth strength training, long-term development, and making fitness meaningful for everyone.

The High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award is given to a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) who has demonstrated excellence in the field of high school strength and conditioning. Accepting this achievement in 2025 is Jim Davis, Ed.M, MA, CSCS, RSCC*E.

James (Jim) Davis is a leader in performance psychology, former professional football player, current strength coach, and renowned leadership development expert. He was the first Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at New Trier High School, where he now oversees the nation's largest high school strength program, with over 2,000 visits per week. His team has supported more than 50 State and National Championship teams while conducting research at the intersection of mental health and human performance. He is also Head Coach of New Trier’s varsity powerlifting team, winning multiple IHSPLA State, USAW High School Throwdown, and NASA High School Nationals Championships. Beyond New Trier, Davis serves as Director of the Good Athlete Project, a nonprofit focused on maximizing the educational potential of athletics. He presents worldwide, publishes frequently, and has earned honors including NASA National Powerlifting Coach of the Year (twice), Community Impact Coach of the Year, and the U.S. Marine Corps Excellence in Leadership Award.

The Educator of the Year Award is presented to an educator who has made noteworthy contributions to education and clinical application of strength training and conditioning. Receiving this honor in 2025 is Tim Suchomel, PhD, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D, FNSCA.

Dr. Tim Suchomel is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Sports Science Master's Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Suchomel has served the NSCA in a variety of roles, including as Wisconsin State Director from 2018 to 2023, and currently serves on the Research Committee and Sport Science and Performance Technology Special Interest Group (SIG) executive council. Additionally, he lends his expertise as a Senior Associate Editor and Associate Editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) and Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ), respectively. Dr. Suchomel has published two books, 13 book chapters, and over 110 peer-reviewed journal articles on topics such as strength and power development and athlete monitoring. He was also awarded the Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator Award in 2022. Dr. Suchomel has mentored numerous students, helping them publish eight peer-reviewed first-author publications and present 60 research abstracts at the NSCA National Conference.

The Nutritional Research Achievement Award is given annually to recognize a nutritionist for their breakthroughs and contributions in the field of athlete nutritional research. Additionally, the Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator Award is given in recognition of a researcher who has been in the field for seven years or less. Accepting both accolades in 2025 is Jennifer Fields, PhD, CSCS.

Dr. Jen Fields is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut, where she directs the Sport Nutrition & Body Composition Lab. She earned her PhD in Kinesiology from George Mason University, where her research focused on optimizing NCAA Division I athlete health through comprehensive load-monitoring programs. Dr. Fields’ research bridges sports nutrition and sport science, with a dual focus on nutrition's role in improving recovery, body composition, and bone health, as well as load-monitoring strategies for long-term athlete health and performance. She is the Co-Founder of the Athlete Sport Performance Initiative for Research and Education, dedicated to advancing evidence-based practices in sports nutrition and sport science. An active NSCA member since 2016, Dr. Fields serves on the CPSS Exam Development Committee and Research Committee, and reviews for the JSCR and SCJ. She has also authored many peer-reviewed publications and presented consistently at regional, national, and international conferences.

The Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation Specialist Award is given to a sports medicine professional whose work and contributions have significantly impacted the field of sports medicine or rehabilitation for athletes. Achieving this honor in 2025 is David Cornell, PhD, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F.

Dr. David J. Cornell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he serves as Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and Co-Director of the Health Assessment Laboratory. He earned his Bachelor's in Exercise Science from Carroll University and his Master's in Kinesiology, PhD in Health Sciences, and Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Dr. Cornell’s interdisciplinary and community-engaged research emphasizes injury prevention, autonomic nervous system assessment, electro-mechanical muscle function, and evidence-based sports medicine techniques for tactical professionals and elite athletes. He has authored original research in top sports medicine journals, including the JSCR, and contributes to NSCA committees and communities, including the Sports Medicine/Return to Performance Special Interest Group (SIG) and the Tactical Strength and Conditioning Professional Development Group (PDG). Dr. Cornell remains actively involved with clinical and professional education initiatives in sports medicine and rehabilitation.

Recipients of the William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist Award are recognized for exemplary contributions and breakthroughs in the field of applied exercise and sport science. Acquiring this accomplishment in 2025 is Paul Comfort, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA.

Dr. Paul Comfort is a Professor of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford in the UK and an Adjunct Professor at Edith Cowan University in Australia. Dr. Comfort is a founding and accredited member of the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and served as a Member on the NSCA Board of Directors from 2020 to 2023. He is also a Master International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (mISCP) through the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) and regularly consults with numerous sports teams in the UK and the United States. Dr. Comfort has published more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and edited numerous books, including the NSCA’s Developing Power, Second Edition. Dr. Comfort is currently working on research projects with NASA and the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) in the UK.

Congratulations to these exceptional professionals — your leadership drives the NSCA forward and upholds the highest standards of excellence.

The NSCA invites you to join us in celebrating their achievements at the 2025 NSCA National Conference in Kansas City, MO, and online on July 16–19. Register now at NSCA.com/NSCACon.

For more information about the NSCA’s esteemed awards, visit NSCA.com/Membership/Awards.

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About the National Strength & Conditioning Association

Founded in 1978, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an educational nonprofit dedicated to advancing strength and conditioning and sport science professions around the world. The NSCA empowers a community of professionals by disseminating evidence-based knowledge and its practical application through industry-leading certifications, peer-reviewed research journals, career development services, and continuing education. The NSCA community is composed of more than 60,000 certified professionals and members worldwide who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance and sport scientists, personal trainers, tactical professionals, and other related roles.