NSCA Impact Award
The NSCA Impact Award is given to an individual who is mid-career or later that has made significant contributions that have impacted a segment of the overall field of strength and conditioning. The NSCA Board of Directors carefully deliberates to select the recipient of this prestigious award.
Congratulations to Our 2023 Winner
Mark Stephenson, MS, ATC, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D
Mark Stephenson currently serves as the Program Director of the Center for Sports Performance and Research Team for Mass General Brigham leading tactical research initiatives. He brings over 32 years of experience in the human performance field. Previously, he was the Human Performance Program Manager for a special operations force unit at USSOCOM and held sports performance leadership positions, including Head Strength and Conditioning Coach (NCAA Div. 1), Director of Player Performance (NFL), and TSAC Director and Program Co-founder for the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Stephenson holds several sports performance and sports medicine certifications, including Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Certified Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F), Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), and Certified Brain Enhanced and Recovery System (BEARS) provider. He also holds advanced degrees in Exercise and Sports Science and in Sports and Performance Psychology. In 2017, Stephenson was named TSAC Practitioner of the Year by the NSCA.
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Award Eligibility
| Nominee must have a minimum of five years cumulative professional membership |
| Individuals must be nominated by a current member of the Board of Directors but recommendations may be submitted to the Board by any current member of the Association |
| 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 |
Past Award Recipients Include:
| 2022 - Steve Bliss, MEd, CSCS, RSCC*E, FNSCA |  |
| 2021 - G. Gregory Haff, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA | |
| 2020 - Steven J. Fleck, PhD, CSCS, FACSM, FNSCA | |
| 2019 - Jerry L. Mayhew, PhD |  |
| 2018 - Mike Arthur, CSCS, RSCC*D |  |
| 2017 - Andrea Hudy, MA, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E |  |
| 2016 - Yuri Verkhoshansky, PhD | |
| 2015 - Keijo Häkkinen, PhD | |
| 2012 - Jim Lorimer | |
| 1997 - Bernard Cahill and John Fatouros |
