2025 Award Winners

Boyd Epley Award for NSCA Lifetime Contributions: Travis Triplett

Travis Triplett is a Professor and Program Director of Kinesiology at Appalachian State University. She previously served as NSCA President — the first female to hold this role — and as Secretary-Treasurer during her initial term on the Board of Directors. Dr. Triplett currently serves on the CASCE Board of Directors and as a lead peer reviewer for CASCE accreditation. An active NSCA...

Alvin Roy Award for Career Achievement: Jan Todd

Professor Jan Todd is Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education and Director of the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports at the University of Texas at Austin (UT). She co-founded the Stark Center, a premier research archive and museum dedicated to strength training and physical culture history. Widely recognized as a pioneer in strength sports, Dr. Todd set over 60 national and world powerlifting records...

NSCA Impact Award: Joe Kenn

In his fourth decade in the field of strength and conditioning, Joe Kenn continues to distinguish himself as an innovator, mentor, and leader. Coach Kenn’s illustrious career spans the private sector, high school, collegiate, and professional ranks. He has been honored as both the NSCA Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year and the NSCA Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year, as well as NFL Strength and...

Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year: Kevin Neeld

Kevin Neeld is the Director of Performance for the Boston Bruins, where he oversees the team’s performance training program and sports science initiatives. Prior to Boston, Neeld spent two years as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the San Jose Sharks and five years assisting the U.S. Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team. He also spent seven years as the Director of a private sports performance facility in New Jersey, where he worked with pro, college, junior, and elite-level youth hockey players. Neeld serves on the Executive Council of the Strength and...

College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year: Scott Caulfield

Scott Caulfield oversees, develops, and manages the individual and group strength and conditioning programs for over 600 student-athletes participating in Norwich University's 22 NCAA Division III varsity athletic programs. As a native Vermonter and US Navy Veteran, he has honed his expertise through "under the bar" lifting and coaching throughout his various roles, including his tenure at the NSCA world headquarters in Colorado Springs from 2011 – 2019. Before joining the NSCA, Coach Caulfield was an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Dartmouth College...

Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year: Lilly Bernardi

Lilly Bernardi is in her fourth year as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. She has had stops at Fordham University (2021 – 2022) and Hofstra University (2022 – 2024) and is in her first year as an Assistant Director of Sports Performance at The University of North Carolina (2024 – present). She has worked with ten different sports throughout her career. In her current role, she is responsible for all aspects of programming for softball, gymnastics, and women’s tennis. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Exercise Science from The College of New Jersey...

High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year: Jim Davis

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..

Personal Trainer of the Year: Josh McMillian

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...

Sports Medicine Rehabilitation Specialist Award: David Cornell

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...

Educator of the Year: Tim Suchomel

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...

Nutritional Research Achievement Award: Jennifer Fields

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...

Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator Award: Jennifer Fields

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...

William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist Award:  Paul Comfort

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...

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) Editorial Excellence Award: Pablo B. Costa

Dr. Pablo Costa is a Professor at California State University, Fullerton. He earned his PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Oklahoma and his Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Costa’s primary research interests include non-invasive assessment of neuromuscular function and the physiological...

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) Editorial Excellence Award: Brandon M. Roberts

Dr. Brandon Roberts is a Physiologist in the Experimental Therapeutics Division at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. His primary mission is to optimize readiness by developing solutions to military-relevant health threats. Dr. Roberts’ expertise spans musculoskeletal physiology, exercise science, nutrition, and pharmaceutical interventions.

Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ) Editorial Excellence Award: Marc Apkarian

Dr. Marc Apkarian serves as Professor of Kinesiology at Biola University in La Mirada, CA. His academic background and scholarly interests are in exercise physiology, fitness evaluation, and disease prevention, with particular focus on the physiological responses to resistance exercise. Dr. Apkarian has been a faculty member, served as Chair of his...

State/Provincial Director of the Year: Drew Gonzalez

Dr. Drew Gonzalez is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor and Director of the Occupational, Nutrition, and Performance Laboratory (OPNL) at Sam Houston State University. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's in Exercise Science from Texas State University and his Doctorate from Texas A&M University, where he also completed postdoctoral training...

Tactical Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year: Brandon M. Roberts

Dr. Brandon Roberts is a major serving in the U.S. Army as a research physiologist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Using a combination of cell culture, animal models, clinical trials, and field studies, he investigates how the body responds to exercise, injury, extreme environments, and the effects of pharmaceutical and nutritional...

Tactical Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year: Patrick McHenry

Patrick McHenry is a GS-12 strength supervisor and operations manager with the Air Force Special Warfare Human Performance Training Squadron, overseeing the 353 TACP training pipeline. With more than 30 years of experience developing athletes from youth to high school, collegiate, professional, and tactical levels, he leads the development of airmen from...