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 |
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.
*Consecutive membership is counted back from the date the award is to be conferred.
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.
Educator of the Year Recipients
Congratulations 2025 Educator of the Year
Tim Suchomel, PhD, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D, FNSCA
Dr. Tim Suchomel is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Sports Science Master's Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Suchomel has served the NSCA in a variety of roles, including as Wisconsin State Director from 2018 to 2023, and currently serves on the Research Committee and Sport Science and Performance Technology Special Interest Group (SIG) executive council. Additionally, he lends his expertise as a Senior Associate Editor and Associate Editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) and Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ), respectively. Dr. Suchomel has published two books, 13 book chapters, and over 110 peer-reviewed journal articles on topics such as strength and power development and athlete monitoring. He was also awarded the Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator Award in 2022. Dr. Suchomel has mentored numerous students, helping them publish eight peer-reviewed first-author publications and present 60 research abstracts at the NSCA National Conference.
Read The Press Release
2024 Winner
Guy Hornsby, PhD, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D
2023 Winner
John McMahon, PhD, CSCS,*D
2022 Winner
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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