High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year
The High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award is awarded to a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS) with RSCC distinction who has demonstrated excellence the field of high school strength and conditioning.
Nominations for the High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award are available online from March 1 through March 15 of every year.
Congratulations to the 2018 winner!
James McFarland Jr., MEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC
James McFarland has been responsible for implementation of Hillsborough High School’s Raider Strength and Conditioning Co-curricular Program, since he began in 1997. In 1999 he was given the charge of coordinating the year round after school strength and conditioning program for students in grades 9-12, and given permission to begin the intermediate school and middle school year round co-curricular initiatives. While continuing these programs, James has been involved with 8 collaborative research studies in youth exercise science with The College of New Jersey, and has over 20 published works. He has been a speaker for the NSCA since his start as a certified strength and conditioning specialist in 2001, and an adjunct professor for The College of New Jersey’s practical exercise science course for the past 4 years. His practical experience is fortified with his USAW Senior Level Certification, extensive experience in youth competitive Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, and recent work with our country's LTAD grass roots introduction. James is serving on the NSCA NJ's Advisory Board, NSCA High School Coaches Working Group, The Raritan Valley Community College (NJ) Exercise Science Committee, and is the Northeast Kingdom Running Camp (VT) Strength and Conditioning Adviser.
Award Eligibility
| Current CSCS certification and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC) distinction |
| Be a current member for two consecutive years |
| Shall have had at least two years as a paid employee with duties as a strength and conditioning professional |
| Has not previously won this award |
| Nominated by a current member |
Additionally, all nominees must qualify using an evaluation criteria (PDF download) and submit a cover letter, resume/CV, and supporting documentation to nominations@nsca.com. Qualifying nominees will also be asked for media/public relations/communication officer contact information, a high resolution head shot (1MB or larger), a short bio, Twitter handle (optional), and a signed media release.
Past Award Recipients Include:
| 2017 - Ryan Johnson, MEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D | 2003 - Larry Meadors, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D |
| 2016 - Micah Kurtz, MS, CSCS, RSCC*D | 2002 - Rosalin Hanna, CSCS,*D |
| 2015 - Fred Eaves, MEd, CSCS, RSCC | 2001 - Stephen Nunnink |
| 2014 - Darnell Clark, MPE, CSCS, RSCC*D | 2000 - Patrick Mediate |
| 2013 - Mike Duehring, MS, CSCS, RSCC,*D, USAW | 1999 - Bud Bjornaraa |
| 2012 - Gary E. Schofield Jr, CSCS,*D | 1998 - Robbie Robinson |
| 2010 - Scott J. Sahli, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D | 1997 - Ron Thomson |
| 2009 - Adam Beard, CSCS | 1996 - Mike Nitka |
| 2008 - Charles R. Wells, MS, CSCS,*D | 1995 - Steve Kenyon |
| 2007 - Kevin Vanderbush, MS, CSCS | 1994 - Edwin Jones |
| 2006 - Ian Jeffreys, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT | 1993 - Dan Burk |
| 2005 - Patrick McHenry, MA, CSCS,*D, RSCC | 1992 - Mike Burgener |
| 2004 - Bruce Harbach, CSCS,*D | 1991 - John Waters |
How is the recipient selected?
- All nominee criteria sheets are reviewed by the NSCA Awards Staff Liaison for minimum eligibility requirements.
- Any nominee not meeting the minimum eligibility requirements are notified by NSCA with the requirement not met.
- NSCA Awards Staff Liaison reviews, against NSCA records, the NSCA involvement sections of the nominee criteria sheets who have met the minimum eligibility requirements.
- Items not able to be verified through record or supporting documentation are noted.
- Nominee criteria sheet points are not changed to reflect any items unable to be verified.
- Once the review of all nominees are complete, an application packet containing the cover letter, CV/Resume, supporting documentation, and criteria sheet of each applicate are submitted to the Awards Task Force Liaison.
- The Awards Task Force Liaison reviews the packet and separates out the top three nominees bases on points.
- The nominees are submitted to the Awards Task Force for vote.
- Votes are collected by the Awards Task Force Liaison, who shall not vote.
- The Awards Task Force Liaison will tally the vote and submit it to the Awards Staff Liaison.
- The Awards Staff Liaison will send out regret and congratulation notifications.
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