Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award
The Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award is given to an outstanding Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS) with RSCC distinction, for their dedication to improving the performance of athletes with safe and effective science-based programs.
Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year 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 |
| NSCA Membership - Minimum 2 years* |
| NSCA CSCS Certification |
| NSCA Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC) |
| Head Strength & Conditioning Coach of a professional sports team or Olympic Team |
| Award Not Previously Received |
*Consecutive membership is counted back from the date the award is to be conferred. 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 with cover letter and CV/resume before the required deadline. |
How Awardees are Selected for Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Awards
Gathering Nominations
Nominations are gathered August–November 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 – Nominations open
December – Nominations close and nominees are contacted to submit award requirements
February – 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.
April – Committee, SIG, or Task Force should vote and decide the winner and will submit the winners name to the National Office.
April – 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
PROFESSIONAL STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH OF THE YEAR Recipients
Congratulations 2026 Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year
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.
2025 Winner
Kevin Neeld, PhD, CPSS, CSCS, RSCC*D - Boston Bruins
2024 Winner
Justin Lovett, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, RSCC*E - Los Angeles Rams
2023 Winner
Megan Young, MS, MSEd, CSCS, *D, RSCC*D - Seattle Sounders
2022 - Dan Dalrymple, CSCS, RSCC*E - New Orleans Saints
2021 - Paul Goodman, MS, CSCS, RSCC*E - Chicago Blackhawks
2020 - Joel Raether, MAEd, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D, RSCC*D - Colorado Mammoth
2018 - Matthew Krause, MA, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D - New York Yankees
2017 - Bill Foran, CSCS, RSCC*E - Miami Heat
2016 - Ashley Jones, MS, CSCS, RSCC*E
2015 - Casey Bond, MS, CSCS, USAW, RSCC*D, Colorado Avalanche
2014 - Joe Kenn, MA, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E, Carolina Panther
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