Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award
The Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award is given to an outstanding Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS) with RSCC distinction, for their dedication to improving the performance of athletes with safe and effective science-based programs.
Congratulations to our 2024 recipient!
Justin Lovett, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, RSCC*E
In 2024, Justin Lovett will be entering his fifth season with the Los Angeles Rams and his fourth as Director of Strength and Conditioning. Lovett arrived in Los Angeles after spending three seasons as the Director of Football Strength and Conditioning with the Purdue University Boilermakers. Prior to Purdue, Lovett helped build the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers football team into back-to-back Conference USA champions as Football Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. Lovett also worked as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for The University of Georgia football program as well as the Denver Broncos. Coach Lovett earned his Bachelor’s in Exercise and Sport Science at Colorado State University, and his Master’s in Exercise Science and Health Promotion at PennWest California.
Read the Press Release
Award Eligibility
| Current NSCA Member |
| NSCA Membership - Minimum 2 years* |
| NSCA CSCS Certification |
| NSCA Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC) |
| Head Strength & Conditioning Coach of a professional sports team or Olympic Team |
| Not a previous recipient |
*Consecutive membership is counted back from the date the award is to be conferred.
Additional requirements listed in the General Awards Criteria, include but not limited to, the nominee must be nominated by a member in good standing and nominees will be sent a criteria sheet to fill out that must be returned with cover letter and CV/resume before the required deadline.
Past Award Recipients Include:
| 2023 - Megan Young, MS, MSEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D - Seattle Sounders | |
| 2022 - Dan Dalrymple, CSCS, RSCC*E - New Orleans Saints | |
| 2021 - Paul Goodman, MS, CSCS, RSCC*E - Chicago Blackhawks | |
| 2020 - Joel Raether, MAEd, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D, RSCC*D - Colorado Mammoth | |
| 2018 - Matthew Krause, MA, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D - New York Yankees |  |
| 2017 - Bill Foran, CSCS, RSCC*E - Miami Heat | |
| 2016 - Ashley Jones, MS, CSCS, RSCC*E |  |
| 2015 - Casey Bond, MS, CSCS, USAW, RSCC*D, Colorado Avalanche | |
| 2014 - Joe Kenn, MA, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E, Carolina Panthers |
How is the recipient selected?
Procedure:
1. The NSCA will market and solicit nominees from NSCA membership.
2. Additional award nominees may be recommended by the NSCA Coaching Program Manager based on recommendations by SPD, SIG, and other NSCA Volunteer Program Leaders.
3. Nominees must meet the General Award Criteria requirements.
4. Nominees must meet the Eligibility Requirements stated in the Criteria Sheet of the award to be considered.
5. The nominee shall provide the completed criteria sheet, cover letter, resume or CV, and supporting documentation of involvement, activities and awards to the NSCA National Headquarters by the requested deadline.
Selection Process:
1. The process for selection shall be as follows:
a. Nominations must be received before the established deadline.
b. NSCA Headquarters will verify eligibility requirements and overall points for nominees have been met.
c. Qualified nominees will be notified.
i. If there are no qualifying nominees, the award will not be given.
d. Top three nominees based on points for each award will be sent to the Coaching (RSCC) Task Force.
e. The Coaching (RSCC) Task Force will vote for the winner.
2. The Coaching (RSCC) Task Force:
a. The Task Force will be volunteers selected yearly by the Coaching Program Manager.
b. It will be apparent that the Task Force is impartial to the nominees.
c. The Task Force will be comprised of >50% non-coaching award recipients and <50% past coaching award recipients.
d. For the HS Coach of the Year Award voting, members of the HS SIG Executive Council will be included in the Task Force.
e. The Coaching Program Manager will certify that the policies and procedures for the nomination and awarding process were followed as outlined herein.
f. The Coaching Program Manager will submit the winners’ names to the Awards and Honors Committee Chair for review and approval.
3. The Awards and Honors Committee Chair will
a. Notify the Board of Directors of the recipient.
4. The NSCA Headquarters will:
a. Notify the recipients of the award.
b. Send regret notifications.
c. Create a Press Release and online announcement of the winners.
d. Will verify attendance at the Coaches Conference Opening Ceremony or the National Conference Awards Banquet.
