The Boyd Epley Award for Lifetime Achievement
The Boyd Epley Award honors individuals who exhibit historical impact, achievements, and dedication to the NSCA over the course of their career. 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.
Congratulations to the 2022 winner!
Michael J. Nitka, MS, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E, FNSCA*E
Coach Nitka currently serves as an Adjunct staff member in the Exercise Science Department at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. Prior to serving at Carroll, he coached high school football and wrestling and taught at Muskego High School for 38 years. Coach Nitka has been a member of the NSCA since 1985. During this time, he served the NSCA as a speaker, volunteer, official international representative, reviewer, editor, and author. He chaired several committees and served twice on the Board of Directors. Among his many NSCA accomplishments, Coach Nitka served both as Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer on the Board of Directors, was the High School Corner column editor in the Strength and Conditioning Journal, served on the Coaching Performance Committee, Conference Committee, Nomination Committee, and as Chair on the Fellow Review Committee, and Chair of the High School Strength and Conditioning Coaches Special Interest Group. Most recently, Coach Nitka co-edited the NSCA’s Guide to High School Strength and Conditioning. He was awarded the Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year – High School Affiliated in 1996, and holds both the Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach, Emeritus (RSCC*E) and Fellow of the NSCA, Emeritus (FNSCA*E).
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Award Eligibility
| Candidates are nominated by a past president or the current member of the NSCA Board of Directors |
| Candidates must have a minimum of 25 years of NSCA membership |
| Candidates are at least 60 years of age |
All nominees must submit a criteria sheet (PDF download), current resume/CV, and supporting documentation to nominations@nsca.com.
Past Award Recipients Include:
| 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 |
