NATIONAL STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2026 PEER & SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Peer & Special Recognition Awards. This year, the Coaching Awards and new ELEVATE Award join the stage at the NSCA National Conference in New Orleans, LA, July 8–11. Together, these honors bridge recognition across the profession by celebrating recipients recognized through NSCA Member nominations and leadership selection for excellence, service, and impact in strength and conditioning.

PEER AWARDS

Professional Awards

The Personal Trainer of the Year Award recognizes a professional who holds the NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®) or Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) credential for exemplary service to the advancement of the personal training profession. Earning recognition in 2026 is Rachel Selman, DPT, CPSS, CSCS.

Dr. Rachel Selman is a strength and conditioning coach, physical therapist, and performance specialist in Charlotte, NC. With a chemistry background from Georgia Tech and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Mercer University, she brings an integrated approach to training, physical therapy, and performance. Dr. Selman has advanced training in pelvic health and running biomechanics and authored the first clinical commentary in the United States on pre- and postnatal rehabilitation for athletes. She owns and operates an integrated wellness facility providing one-on-one training, physical therapy, and performance services. She is also the author of Floor It: Using the Pelvic Floor to Power Performance. Dr. Selman is committed to pelvic health integration in strength and conditioning through athlete advocacy, whole-person care, and better outcomes for athletes regardless of gender.

The Educator of the Year Award is presented to an educator who has made noteworthy contributions to education and clinical application of strength training and conditioning. Receiving this honor in 2026 is Antonio Squillante, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, RSCC*D.

Antonio Squillante is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and a visiting professor in the Division of Physical Therapy at the University of Rome in Italy. He earned his PhD in Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. With nearly two decades of experience as a strength and conditioning coach, Squillante has worked across collegiate athletics and professional sport in Europe and North America. His background in applied practice and research informs his teaching approach, balancing theory and practice. A published author and international speaker, Squillante serves on the NSCA Board of Directors and helps expand the organization’s global reach through continuing education, affiliate support, local NSCA events, and Exam Prep Live Clinics. He also serves as a mentor through the NSCA L.I.F.T. Mentorship Program.

The Nutritional Research Achievement Award is given annually to recognize a nutrition professional for their breakthroughs and contributions in the field of athlete nutritional research. Earning this recognition in 2026 is Brandon Roberts, PhD, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D, FNSCA.

Dr. Brandon Roberts is a physiologist in the U.S. Army at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. His research focuses on developing solutions to challenges that affect military readiness. His work spans nutrition, musculoskeletal physiology, and pharmacologic interventions to support recovery, resilience, and operational performance.

The Sports Medicine/Return to Performance Specialist Award recognizes credentialed professionals in the sports medicine to return to performance continuum whose work has significantly impacted the industry. Achieving this honor in 2026 is Jennifer Novak, MS, CSCS.

Jennifer Novak has more than two decades of experience helping athletes and active individuals overcome musculoskeletal and neuromuscular issues in post-rehabilitation settings. With a Master of Science in Kinesiology, a graduate certificate in orthopedic injury, her CSCS, and postgraduate functional neurology coursework in her toolkit, she enjoys providing return-to-performance strategies for her clientele. Novak is the author of the Springer textbook chapter “Photobiomodulation: The Use of Specific Light Wavelengths to Accelerate Recovery, Repair, and Regeneration,” and she’s conducting collaborative research using photobiomodulation for recovery and readiness in tactical athletes at the University of East London. She currently serves as NSCA’s Georgia State Director and is the former Chair of the Sports Medicine/Return to Performance Special Interest Group (SIG) Executive Council. She was the first return-to-performance (RTP) specialist to serve as the SIG’s Chair, and in that role, she helped expand its collaborative RTP focus.

The Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator Award recognizes an up-and-coming researcher within seven years of earning a doctoral degree. Accepting this accolade in 2026 is Drew Gonzalez, PhD, CSCS, TSAC-F.

Dr. Drew Gonzalez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Sam Houston State University, where he directs the Occupational Performance and Nutrition Laboratory. He earned his PhD in Exercise Physiology from Texas A&M University, where his research focused on the intersection of exercise physiology, nutrition, and occupational performance in tactical populations. Dr. Gonzalez’s research bridges sports nutrition, clinical physiology, and occupational performance, with a primary focus on improving firefighter health, readiness, and resilience. His body of work includes more than 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts, nine book chapters, and 150 conference abstracts, with many projects addressing tactical athlete health, readiness, and cardiometabolic outcomes. He also serves as NSCA Texas State Director and Chair of the Nutrition, Metabolism, and Body Composition SIG.

Recipients of the William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist Award are recognized for exemplary contributions and breakthroughs in applied exercise and sport science. Receiving this honor in 2026 is Brad Schoenfeld, PhD, CSPS,*D, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, FNSCA.

Dr. Brad Schoenfeld is a Professor of Exercise Science at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York, where he serves as Director of the Graduate Program in Human Performance and Fitness. He earned his PhD in Health Promotion and Wellness from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, with dissertation research focused on mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training. Dr. Schoenfeld has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications, with his work cited in approximately 40,000 scholarly articles. He has also written several books on fitness, including Science and Development of Muscle Hypertrophy, and has presented seminars and workshops in more than 30 countries across five continents.

COACHING AWARDS

The Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award honors an outstanding CSCS-certified professional with Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach® (RSCC) distinction for improving athlete performance through safe, effective, science-based programs. Receiving this honor in 2026 is Fernando Noriega, EdD, CPSS, CSCS, RSCC*D.

Fernando Noriega serves as Director of Player Performance and Sports Science and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. With more than a decade of NFL experience, he oversees player workload management, sports science, strength and conditioning, and nutrition. Noriega has coached in multiple Super Bowls and helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX. His work preparing athletes, managing workload, and maintaining player readiness has supported availability and performance at the highest level, including all day-one starters available for Super Bowl LVII and 21 of 22 starters available for Super Bowl LIX. He earned his Doctorate in Sports Leadership, focusing on strategic leadership, organizational culture change and management, talent development, and organizational alignment.

The College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award recognizes a CSCS-certified head coach for exemplary service to the advancement of strength and conditioning at the collegiate level. Receiving this honor in 2026 is Dan Perlmutter, MEd, CSCS, RSCC*E.

Dan Perlmutter serves as Director of Sports Performance and Head Olympic Sports Performance Coach at Duke University. He manages eight sports performance coaches who train 24 Blue Devil Olympic sports teams and oversees performance training for baseball and men’s soccer. Since joining Duke in 2009 after five years at Harvard University, Perlmutter has worked tirelessly to build and support a staff that has contributed to numerous ACC and national championships and hundreds of All-ACC and All-American honors, driving team and individual success through elite performance programming design and implementation. He has played a pivotal role in developing more than 50 Duke baseball players drafted by MLB and more than 20 Duke soccer players competing in MLS and professional European leagues. Perlmutter also oversees staff development and daily operations for the Scott Family Athletics Performance Center, speaks nationally on sports performance and leadership, and mentors young strength coaches across the country.

The Assistant College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award celebrates a CSCS-certified assistant coach for exemplary service to student-athlete success and the advancement of strength and conditioning at the collegiate level. Receiving this honor in 2026 is Ashley Kowalewski, MS, CSCS, RSCC.

Ashley Kowalewski is an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Louisiana State University (LSU), where she works with Olympic sports, primarily volleyball and women’s tennis. Her background includes extensive work with overhead and rotational athletes, as well as broader experience across diverse performance demands. Kowalewski is recognized for developing athletes at all levels of training experience, with particular expertise in building foundational movement competency and long-term performance habits. Her impact has contributed to high-level team success, including back-to-back Women’s College World Series appearances with Arizona softball and a historic Elite Eight run and SEC Tournament finalist finish with LSU women’s tennis. A trusted presence within her department, Kowalewski supports programs in transition while contributing to intern education, staff collaboration, speaking engagements, and committee service.

The High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award recognizes a CSCS-certified coach who has demonstrated excellence in high school strength and conditioning. Receiving this honor in 2026 is Jesse Padgett, MS, CSCS, 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.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

Selected by the Editor-in-Chief, the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) Editorial Excellence Award is presented to members of the JSCR Editorial Board in recognition of their service to the journal and association. Earning this honor in 2026 are Gerald T. Mangine, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, TSAC-F,*D, FNSCA, and Shawn Arent, PhD, CSCS,*D.

Dr. Gerald T. Mangine is Director of the Wellstar Research Center on Human Sport Performance and Wellbeing and a Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management at Kennesaw State University. His work focuses on integrating research and practice to improve athletic performance. Dr. Mangine has served extensively as both a senior editor and reviewer for the JSCR, approaching each submission with respect for the work behind it and relying on peer reviewer expertise to guide the evaluation process.

Dr. Shawn M. Arent is Professor and Chair of the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina and Director of the USC Sport Science Lab. He earned his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Exercise Science from Arizona State University after completing his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on relationships between training, nutrition, and stress and their implications for health, performance, and recovery. Dr. Arent is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, the International Society of Sports Nutrition, and the National Academy of Kinesiology. He serves on the NSCA Board of Directors and has worked with U.S. Special Forces, the NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, the USOPC, the U.S. Soccer Federation, and teams and athletes at youth, high school, and collegiate levels.

Determined by the Editor and Senior Editors, the Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ) Editorial Excellence Award is presented to an individual in recognition of exemplary service to the journal’s review and editorial process. Receiving this recognition in 2026 is John F. Holland, MS, CPSS, CSCS, ACSM-CEP.

John F. Holland is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in Cardiology Diagnostics, working in outpatient and hospital-based settings. His work integrates clinical exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, and data-informed decision-making to support safe, effective outcomes in patient and performance contexts. Holland serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the NSCA, a reviewer for the SCJ, and contributes to accreditation and education through the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE). He also teaches as an Adjunct Instructor at Maryville University.

Using the Evaluation Criteria format, the State/Provincial Director of the Year Award is given to a state or provincial director who has accumulated the most points during the year from April 1 to March 31. Accepting this achievement in 2026 is Zachary Gillen, PhD, CPSS,*D, CSCS,*D.

Dr. Zachary Gillen has served as NSCA State Director for Mississippi since 2022. He has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Mississippi State University since 2020 and directs the Resistance Exercise Performance Lab. He has been an author or co-author on over 50 peer-reviewed papers, over 80 conference proceedings and presentations, 5 book chapters, and has served as principal investigator (PI) or co-principal investigator (Co-PI) on over $2 million in external funding. In addition to his active involvement with the NSCA, Dr. Gillen promotes student engagement in the NSCA and other professional organizations, with his graduate students regularly publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts and presenting at both NSCA and non-NSCA conferences.

New in 2026, the ELEVATE Award recognizes NSCA Members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to Equity, Leadership, Empowerment, Visibility, Access, Training, and Excellence in strength and conditioning. Receiving this inaugural award is Rodney Gaines, PhD, CSCS, RSCC*E.

Dr. Rodney Gaines is a Collegiate Associate Professor at Virginia Tech and Chair of the NSCA Health and Wellness Special Interest Group (SIG). An NSCA Member for more than 25 years and CSCS-certified since 1997, Dr. Gaines previously served two terms as NSCA Virginia State Director, was NSCA MidAtlantic Regional Director, and served on the NSCA Board of Directors from 2010 to 2013. He has also served as a lead instructor for NSCA Exam Prep Live Clinics and currently serves as a peer reviewer for CASCE accreditation reviews. Dr. Gaines also founded the NSCA Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition, Health and Wellness, Track and Field, and Exercise/Sport Psychology SIGs. Across 24 years of teaching, Dr. Gaines has held university governance roles, started strength and conditioning programs at Norfolk State University and Virginia State University, earned election to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Strength Sports Hall of Fame, and was selected as AAU National Director for Bodybuilding and Fitness.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose achievements reflect the NSCA community’s standard of excellence and commitment to advancing strength and conditioning.

The NSCA invites you to join us in celebrating their achievements at the 2026 NSCA National Conference in New Orleans, LA, and online, July 8–11. Register now at NSCA.com/NSCACon.

For more information about the NSCA’s esteemed awards, visit NSCA.com/Membership/Awards.

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About the National Strength & Conditioning Association

Founded in 1978, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an educational nonprofit dedicated to advancing strength and conditioning and sport science professions around the world. The NSCA empowers a community of professionals by disseminating evidence-based knowledge and its practical application through industry-leading certifications, peer-reviewed research journals, career development services, and continuing education. The NSCA community is composed of more than 60,000 certified professionals and members worldwide who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance and sport scientists, personal trainers, tactical professionals, and other related roles.