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 Member for 37 years, Dr. Triplett...

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... has been married to his wife, Angela, for 36 years. They have...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 effects of exercise...

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. Dr. Gonzalez has authored over 45 peer-reviewed publications and book...