Educator of the Year
Honoring noteworthy contributions to the teaching and clinical application in the field of strength and conditioning, the Educator of the Year Award recognizes the top minds of the industry. Recipients have advanced the education of general strength training and conditioning, exercise and sport science, or enhanced the education discipline with the NSCA.
Educator of the Year Award Eligibility
Each nominee will be asked to fill out a criteria sheet that details career accomplishments and contributions to the personal training industry.
The criteria sheet assigns points to a variety of professional achievements, letters of recommendation, volunteer involvement with the NSCA, and other activities related to the personal training industry.
NSCA Members in good standing may nominate other NSCA Members or themselves.
Nominations are open August-December
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
| NSCA Membership for 2 consecutive years* |
| NSCA Certification (CSCS or NSCA-CPT) |
| Degrees conferred |
| Cover letter, resume or CV, and criteria worksheet received |
| Award not previously received, and is not a current member of the NSCA Education Committee |
*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 evaluation form to fill out that must be returned before the required deadline.
How Awardees are Selected for the Educator of the Year
Gathering Nominations
Nominations are gathered August–December each year. Any nomination received before the established deadline will be accepted for review of eligibility. Nominees will be notified of their nomination along with a request to complete the award criteria sheet.
Eligibility Verification and Points Tally
NSCA Headquarters will verify eligibility and minimum category requirements have been met. The overall points for each nominees will be tallied, and qualified nominees will be notified.
Voting by Industry Leadership
The top three nominees based on overall points will be sent to the Education Chair who will organize the vote based on the following:
• Voting participants should be comprised of >50% Education Committee Members, with the remainder coming from past Educator of the Year award recipients.
• Current Education Committee members are not eligible for this award.
• The Chair will notify NSCA Headquarters and the Awards and Honors Committee Chair of the vote result.
Awardee Notification
The NSCA National Headquarters will:
• Notify the recipient of the award.
• Send regret notifications.
• Create a Press Release announcement of the winner.
• Will verify attendance at the National Conference awards banquet.
If there are no qualifying nominees, the award will not be given.
Award Timeline
August – nominations open
December – nominations close and nominees are contacted to submit award requirements
February – nominees are required to have all materials submitted and NSCA staff will evaluate that eligibility requirements have been met before submitting to the Committee, SIG, or Task Force.
April – Committee, SIG, or Task Force should vote and decide the winner and will submit the winners name to the National Office.
April – notifications to nominees will be sent by the National Office and press announcements will be coordinated
July – Award conferred at the National Conference Awards Banquet
Past Educator of the Year Recipients
Congratulations 2024 Educator of the Year
Guy Hornsby, PhD, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D
Dr. Guy Hornsby is an Assistant Professor at West Virginia University in Coaching and Performance Science (CPS). His primary responsibilities include overseeing the strength and conditioning and applied sport science aspects within the CPS program (Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral). Additionally, he coordinates and oversees a schoolboard-funded graduate assistantship program that provides a Head Strength and Conditioning Coach to three local area high schools. Dr. Hornsby previously served as the NSCA State Director for West Virginia and is currently the NSCA Weightlifting SIG Chair. He has presented at the NSCA National Conference, NSCA Coaches Conference, and the NSCA Advanced Periodization Virtual Clinic. He contributed a chapter, “Exercise Technique,” to the upcoming 5th edition of the NSCA’s Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, authored or co-authored several book chapters, and co-authored Strength and Conditioning in Sports: From Science to Practice. Dr. Hornsby’s research is centered around better understanding the training process for strength-power athletes and various aspects of athlete monitoring
Read The Press Release
2023 Winner
John McMahon, PhD, CSCS,*D
2022 Winner
David H. Fukuda, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA
2020 Winner
Chad M. Kerksick, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, FNSCA
2023 - John McMahon, PhD, CSCS,*D
2022 - David H. Fukuda, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA
2021 - Paul Comfort, PhD, CSCS,*D
2020 - Chad M. Kerksick, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, FNSCA
2019 - Rhodri S. Lloyd, PhD, CSCS,*D
2017 - Matt Stock, PhD, CSCS,*D
2016 - Brent A. Alvar, PhD, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D, FACSM, FNSCA
2015 - Jeffrey R. Stout, PhD, CSCS, FNSCA
2014 - Andrew C. Fry, PhD, CSCS*D, FNSCA
2013 - Jared Coburn, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA, FACSM
2012 - Michael A. Martino, PhD, CSCS
2010 - Lee E. Brown, EdD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA
2009 - Jose Antonio, PhD, CSCS, FNSCA
2008 - Margaret T. Jones, PhD, CSCS,*D
2007 - Ellyn M. Robinson, DPE, CSCS,*D
2006 - Terry Housh, PhD, FNSCA
2005 - David R. Pearson, PhD, CSCS,*D
2004 - Mike Greenwood, PhD, CSCS,*D
2003 - Jay R. Hoffman, PhD, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D
2002 - William J. Kraemer, PhD, CSCS
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