Boyd Epley Award for NSCA Lifetime Contributions
The Boyd Epley Award, the highest NSCA honor, recognizes individuals who exhibit historical impact, achievements and dedication to the NSCA over the course of their career.
The Award's Namesake
Boyd Epley, veteran strength and conditioning coach, etched his name in the annals of the profession, not just for his pioneering efforts in dispelling the myth of muscle binding and promoting weight training, but also through his influence in founding the NSCA to help educate and shape the industry.
Awardee Selection
The Boyd Epley Award recognizes a liftetime of contributions to both the NSCA and the field of strength and conditioning. Prospective Awardees must first meet the minimum requirements. Consideration is given in the following areas:
Overall Professional Impact: How the nominee has impacted the practice, scientific understanding, or methodologies of strength and conditioning.
Achievements: Highlight the nominee’s career achievements in the field of strength and conditioning and within the NSCA.
Dedication to the NSCA: How the nominee has advanced the NSCA and its mission through a range of undertakings such as, governance, positions held, presentations & publications, outreach & promotional activities.
The Board of Directors carefully deliberates to select the recipient of the Boyd Epley Award, as it is the most prestigious award a member of the NSCA can receive.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
| Individuals must be nominated by a current member of the Board of Directors or a Past president |
| Individuals must have 35 years of professional experience |
| The nominee must have held NSCA Membership or Certification for a total of 25 years or more |
| Nominations must be accompanied by a brief supporting statement regarding the nominee’s qualifications for consideration for the award |
| Nominations and recommendations must be received by December 15 to be considered for the following year’s award |
| The award may be given posthumously |
While the NSCA does not solicit nominations from the NSCA membership at-large for Career Awards, NSCA members may submit recommendations for the Board's consideration.
BOYD EPLEY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Congratulations to Our 2026 Winner
John Graham, MS, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E, FNSCA
John Graham is the Senior Network Administrator for Lifestyle Health & Wellness, Fitness & Sports Performance at St. Luke’s University Health Network in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is pursuing his Doctorate of Health Sciences at East Stroudsburg University and has served as an adjunct professor at multiple colleges and universities.
Graham’s service to the NSCA spans governance, certification, education, and publication. He was a member of the NSCA Board of Directors from 2001 to 2003, including as Vice President in 2002 and Secretary/Treasurer in 2003. He also contributed through the NSCA Certification Committee from 2010 to 2017, chairing it from 2012 to 2017, and the Conference and Education Committee, which he chaired from 2004 to 2009. In NSCA publications, Graham was editor of the Exercise Technique Column in the Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ) from 2000 to 2011, has served as an associate editor for the SCJ since 2008, and received the SCJ Editorial Excellence Award in 2000.
Beyond his NSCA service, Graham has authored or contributed to peer-reviewed and lay publications and presented on strength and conditioning, chronic disease and disability management, health, fitness, and metabolic training. He also coordinates, designs, and implements exercise prescriptions for athletes, fitness populations, and individuals with chronic conditions and disorders. His work has earned recognition from organizations and institutions including the American Council on Exercise, Medical Fitness Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, business publications, and state government bodies.
2025 Winner
Travis Triplett, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA
2024 Winner
Ken Kontor
2023 Winner
Ashley Jones, MSc, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E
2022 - Michael J. Nitka, MS, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E, FNSCA*E
2021 - Bill Allerheiligen, MS, FNSCA
2020 - Terry J. Housh, PhD, FNSCA
2019 - T. Jeff Chandler, EdD, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, FNSCA
2018 - Andrew C. Fry, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA
2017 - Avery Faigenbaum, EdD, CSCS, CSPS, FNSCA
2015 - Gerard Martin, MA, CSCS, RSCC*E
2014 - Lee Brown, EdD, CSCS,*D, FACSM, FNSCA
2013 - Gene Coleman, EdD, CSCS, RSCC,*E
2012 - Al Vermeil, CSCS, RSCC*E
2011- Everett Harman, PhD, CSCS, NSCA-CPT
2010 - Steve Bliss, MEd, CSCS, RSCC*E, FNSCA
2009 - Meg Ritchie-Stone, MS, FNSCA
2008 - Bruno Pauletto, MS, CSCS, FNSCA
2007 - Gary A. Dudley, PhD, CSCS
2005 - Steven J. Fleck, PhD, CSCS, FNSCA
2004 - John Garhammer, PhD, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, FNSCA
2000 - Mike Stone, PhD, CSCS, FNSCA
1998 - Tom Baechle, EdD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D
1996 - Dan Wathen, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT*D, FNSCA
1994 - William J. Kraemer, PhD, CSCS, FNSCA
1993 - Boyd Epley, MEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E, FNSCA
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