High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year
Recognizing committed individuals training youth populations, the High School Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year Award recognizes a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) for exemplary service to the advancement of strength and conditioning at the high school level.
High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award Eligibility
Each nominee will be asked to fill out a criteria sheet that details career accomplishments and contributions to strength and conditioning.
The criteria sheet assigns points to a variety of professional achievements, letters of recommendation, volunteer involvement with the NSCA, and other activities related to strength and conditioning.
NSCA Members in good standing may nominate other NSCA Members or themselves.
Nominations are open August-December
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
| Current NSCA Member |
| Current CSCS Certification |
| Not a previous recipient |
| Cover letter, Resume or CV |
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 criteria sheet to fill out that must be returned before the required deadline.
How Awardees are Selected for High School Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year Awards
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 Coaching (RSCC) Task Force. The voting group will be determined based on the following:
1. The Task Force will be volunteers selected yearly by the Coaching Program Manager.
2. It will be apparent that the Task Force is impartial to the nominees.
3. The Task Force will be comprised of >50% non-coaching award recipients and <50% past coaching award recipients.
4. For the HS Coach of the Year Award voting, members of the HS SIG Executive Council will be included in the Task Force.
5. The Coaching Program Manager will certify that the policies and procedures for the nomination and awarding process were followed as outlined herein and will submit the winners’ names to the Awards and Honors Committee Chair for review and approval.
Awardee Notification
1. The Chair will notify NSCA Headquarters and the Awards and Honors Committee Chair of the selected recipient.
2. The Awards and Honors Committee Chair will notify the NSCA Board of Directors of the recipient.
3. The NSCA Headquarters will notify the recipient of the award, send regret notifications, create a Press Release announcement of the winner, and verify attendance at the National Conference awards banquet.
If there are no qualifying nominees, the award will not be given.
Award Timeline
August 1 - Nominations open.
November 30 – Nominations close and nominees are contacted to submit award requirements.
January – 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.
February – Committee, SIG, or Task Force should vote and decide the winner and will submit the winners name to the National Office.
March – 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.
High School Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year Recipients
Congratulations 2026 High School Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year
Jesse Padgett, MS, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D
Jesse Padgett has served as a Sports Performance Specialist for Nationwide Children’s Hospital for seven years. Based at Bexley High School, he oversees programming for all high school athletics and multiple middle school programs. During his tenure, Padgett has supported multiple individual state champions. Before joining Nationwide Children’s, he spent six years as a strength and conditioning coach at the NCAA Division I collegiate level. Padgett holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from PennWest California, formerly California University of Pennsylvania.
2025 Winner
Jim Davis, MEd, MA, CSCS, RSCC*E
2024 Winner
Justin Loudon, CSCS, RSCC
2023 Winner
Andrew Caldwell, PhD, CSCS, RSCC*D
2022 - Richard C. Lansky, CSCS, RSCC*E
2021 - Sam Melendrez, MS, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D
2018 - James McFarland Jr, MEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D
2017 - Ryan Johnson, MEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D
2016 - Micah Kurtz, MS, CSCS, RSCC*D
2015 - Fred Eaves, MEd, CSCS, RSCC
2014 - Darnell Clark, MPE, CSCS, RSCC*D
2013 - Mike Duehring, MS, CSCS, RSCC,*D, USAW
2012 - Gary E. Schofield Jr, CSCS,*D
2010 - Scott J. Sahli, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D
2009 - Adam Beard, CSCS
2008 - Charles R. Wells, MS, CSCS,*D
2007 - Kevin Vanderbush, MS, CSCS
2006 - Ian Jeffreys, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT
2005 - Patrick McHenry, MA, CSCS,*D, RSCC
2004 - Bruce Harbach, CSCS,*D
2003 - Larry Meadors, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D
2002 - Rosalin Hanna, CSCS,*D
2001 - Stephen Nunnink
2000 - Patrick Mediate
1999 - Bud Bjornaraa
1998 - Robbie Robinson
1997 - Ron Thomson
1996 - Mike Nitka
1995 - Steve Kenyon
1994 - Edwin Jones
1993 - Dan Burk
1992 - Mike Burgener
1991 - John Waters
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