Assistant College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year
The Assistant College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award is given to an outstanding Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS) who has demonstrated dedication to improving athletic performance at the college level.
Congratulations to our 2021 winner!
Andrew Stocks, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT!
Coach Stocks joined Augustana University in July 2015 as assistant strength and conditioning coach and is responsible for all aspects of the strength and conditioning program for softball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, and swimming while assisting with football. In his time at Augustana, Coach Stocks has been the strength and conditioning coach for two NCAA Division II National Championships, 17 All-Americans, 3 Academic All-Americans, 13 NSIC MVPs, and 2 NSIC Tournament Champions. Stocks came to the Vikings after spending over a year at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY where he designed and implemented strength and speed programs for bobsled, skeleton, luge, and biathlon athletes. From 2011 through 2013, Stocks served as a graduate assistant at South Dakota State University where he oversaw strength and conditioning for swimming and diving, wrestling, golf, and tennis, while also working with all 21 Jackrabbit athletic teams. He earned a Master of Science degree in nutrition, exercise, and food sciences from SDSU in 2015. Coach Stocks also completed internships at the University of Missouri, the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, and the University of Michigan. Coach Stocks graduated with honors in 2010 from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise and sport science with concentrations in strength & conditioning, and coaching competitive athletics. While at UW-L he assisted the strength and conditioning staff with all 17 varsity teams. Stocks was a member of the Eagles weightlifting club and continues to compete in both Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting in his free time.
Access the Press Release.
Award Eligibility
| Current NSCA Member |
| NSCA Membership - Minimum 2 years* |
| NSCA CSCS Certification |
| Current Assistant College Strength and Conditioning Coach with at least 2 yr experience (beyond the internship / graduate assistant level) |
| Not a previous recipient |
*Consectutive 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 a cover letter and CV/resume before the required deadline.
Past Award Recipients Include:
| 2019 - Ashley Jackson, MS, CSCS, RSCC, University of Michigan |  |
| 2017 - Domenic Reno, CSCS, RSCC*D, Western Kentucky University |  |
| 2016 - Matt Shaw, MEd, CSCS, RSCC, University of Denver |  |
| 2015 - Bo Sandoval, MS, CSCS, USAW-2, RSCC, University of Michigan | |
| 2014 - Caitlin Quinn, CSCS, RSCC, Florida State University | |
| 2013 - Antony McClure, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D, New Mexico University | |
| 2012 - Jason E. Spray, CSCS Middle Tennessee State University |
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.
