U.S. Olympic Committee announces 2014 Coaches of the Year

The United States Olympic Committee today announced its annual award recipients for 2014 national coaches of the year. On the Olympic side, Skogen Sprang (freestyle skiing; Olympic Valley, Calif.) was recognized as National Coach of the Year, while Brian Loeffler (Paralympic swimming; Baltimore, Md.) took home Paralympic National Coach of the Year honors. Additionally, George Ryals (archery; Monroe, Ga.) was named Developmental Coach of the Year, Kathleen Stevenson (archery; Nichols Hills, Okla.) was selected Volunteer Coach of the Year and Dave Hamilton (field hockey; Lancaster, Pa.) took home the Doc Councilman Science Award.

"We are honored to recognize this distinguished group of coaches, who have dedicated their lives to helping American athletes realize their full potential and achieve excellence, both on and off the field of play," said Alan Ashley, USOC chief of sport performance. "Team USA is stronger because of their positive influence and tireless commitment to our athletes, and we are proud to honor them as our coaches of the year."

National Governing Bodies selected their 2014 Coaches of the Year as part of the USOC Coach of the Year Recognition Program. Three national finalists in each category were selected by a panel of coaching and sport education professionals.

National Coach of the Year – Skogen Sprang, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association

In his second season as the U.S. slopestyle skiing head coach, Sprang led Team USA in capturing four Olympic medals at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, highlighted by a historic sweep of the men’s podium – only the third by a U.S. team in Olympic Winter Games history. Under Sprang’s direction the men’s team of Joss Christensen, Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper, and women’s slopestyle skier Devin Logan combined to earn four of Team USA’s nine medals in the new Olympic events to debut in Sochi. For his success, he was recognized as the 2014 U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Freeskiing International Coach of the Year.

Finalists:

Tuffy Latour – Bobsled

Geno Auriemma – Basketball

Paralympic National Coach of the Year – Brian Loeffler, U.S. Paralympic Swimming

In 2014, Loeffler guided four athletes to set one world and 10 American records. He has played a key role in developing Paralympic champions Brad Snyder and Cortney Jordan. At the 2014 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships, Synder and Jordan won a combined 14 medals, including 10 golds. He also served as an assistant coach at the Pan Pacific championships, helping Team USA top the medal standings with 115 medals, including 34 golds. Loeffler also served as the head coach for Team USA at the 2014 Croatian Open and is the head swim coach for Loyola University in Maryland.

Finalists:

Ryan Reser – Judo

Paul Walker – Tennis

Developmental Coach of the Year – George Ryals, USA Archery

Ryals guided archers of all skill levels to success on state, regional, national and world championship stages in 2014. Under his mentorship, the U.S. men’s junior compound team took the gold medal at the 2014 World Indoor Championships in Nimes, France, and athletes earned more than 35 top-three finishes in national competition. After 15 years of competing professionally, Ryals opened the Archery Learning Center, where he leverages his deep knowledge and experience in the sport to teach and inspire archers at the local, national and international level. Ryals previously worked as a product designer for Martin Archery and Copper John, and many of his designs are still in use today.

Finalists:

Mark Shaw – Water Skiing

Frank Kelble – Alpine Skiing

Volunteer Coach of the Year – Kathleen Stevenson, USA Archery

Stevenson, co-establisher of the Oklahoma Storm Junior Olympic Archery Development program and professional archer, is dedicated to helping young archers achieve success in regional and national USA Archery competitions. Under her tutelage, Brogan Williams set a world record and led the 2014 World Indoor Championship junior women’s compound team to a silver medal. Stevenson also works with several community organizations – including the Boy Scouts of America – to organize events and foster interest in archery.

Finalists:

Eugene Byrne – Bobsled

Ron Halcrow - Speedskating

National Doc Counsilman Science Award – Dave Hamilton, USA Field Hockey

As director of performance science for the U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey Team, Hamilton develops fully integrated physical performance programs that position the team for long-term success. His specialized training programs and analysis of individual athlete performance during practice, using the Catapult GPS, allow the coaching staff to track speed, power and force, among other statistics, in real time, and customize workouts to help athletes reach their maximum potential. Renowned nationwide for his innovation, Hamilton has been published and invited to speak at conferences and seminars about his findings and experience.

Finalists:

Mark Kovacs – Tennis

Melissa Vriner – Figure Skating

All-Time USOC Coach of the Year Award Recipients

National Coach of the Year

The National Coach of the Year is presented to a coach of an elite-level club, collegiate or national-level team, or the coach of an elite athlete who competes at the highest level of his/her sport.

1996 Tara VanDerveer, U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Coach

1997 Frank Carroll, Olympic figure skating coach of Michelle Kwan

1998 Ben Smith, U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey coach

1999 Chris Carmichael, Cycling Coach of Lance Armstrong

2000 Richard Quick, U.S. Olympic Women’s Swimming Team coach

2001-02 Pete del’Giudice, U.S. Snowboarding coach

2003 Lloyd Woodhouse, USA Shooting National Team coach

2004 Mike Candrea, U.S. Softball Women’s National Team coach

2005 Eddie Reese, U.S. Men’s National Swimming Team coach

2006 Bud Keene, U.S. Snowboarding coach

2007 Guy Baker, U.S. National Water Polo Team coach

2008 Hugh McCutcheon, U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team coach

2009 Bob Bradley, U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team coach

2010 Brian Shimer, U.S. men’s bobsled head coach

2011 Rick Bower, U.S. Halfpipe Snowboarding Team coach

2012 Adam Krikorian, U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team coach

2013 Erik Flora, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Club head coach

2014 Skogen Sprang, U.S. Slopestyle Skiing Team head coach

Paralympic National Coach of the Year

The Paralympic National Coach of the Year is presented to a coach of an elite-level club, collegiate or national-level team, or the coach of an elite athlete who competes at the highest level of his/her sport.

2004 Mike Hulett, USA Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team coach

2005 Randi Smith, U.S. Paralympic Archery Team Head coach

2006 Julie O’Neill, U.S. Paralympic Swim Team head coach

2007 Adam Bleakney, U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Track coach

2008 Ken Armbruster, U.S. Paralympic Women’s Goalball head coach

2009 Scott Moore, Denver Judo coach

2010 Ray Watkins, 2010 U.S. Paralympic Alpine Ski Team coach

2011 Dave Denniston, U.S. Paralympic Swimming head coach

2012 Tom Franke, U.S. Paralympic Swimming head coach

2013 Adam Bleakney, U.S. Paralympic Track & Field coach

2014 Brian Loeffler, Swimming, U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team coach

Developmental Coach of the Year

The Developmental Coach of the Year is presented to a coach at the youth club, high school or junior level, or a coach who is directly responsible for training athletes to reach the junior and/or elite level.

1996 Jeff Shaffer, University of Southern California

1997 Dianne Holum, Speedskating

1998 Mike Stafford, Millvale Golden Gloves Gym (Cincinnati)

1999 Tom Healy, Northbrook (Ill.) Speedskating Club

2000 Fred Zimny, Luge (Lake Placid, N.Y.)

2001-02 Mike Eaves, U.S. National Under-18 Hockey Team

2003 Bob Fraley, Fresno State (Calif.) University Track & Field

2004 Dwayne Miller, Norfolk (Va.) Real Deal Track Club

2005 Tammy Gambill, U.S. Figure Skating

2006 Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson, U.S. Figure Skating

2007 Paul Yetter, USA Swimming

2008 Rajul Sheth, Table Tennis (Milpitas, Calif.)

2009 John Wingfield, Director and Head Coach of USA Diving National Training Center

2010 Michael Nyitray, United States Bowling Congress (Miami, Fla.)

2011 James Hrbek, USA Judo

2012 Michael Nyitray, United States Bowling Congress (Miami, Fla.)

2013 Kathleen Johnston, USA Triathlon

2014 George Ryals, Archery Learning Center (Snellville, Ga.)

Volunteer Coach of the Year

The Volunteer Coach of the Year is presented to a coach who does not receive payment in any form for his/her involvement in coaching at any level.

2003 Carol Hardemon, Metro Dade (Fla.) Track Club

2004 Barry Hunter, Washington, D.C. Boxing coach

2005 Cindi Hart, IndySpeed Sport Club head coach (speedskating)

2006 Booker Woods, LA JETS head coach (track & field)

2007 Sherman Nelson, USA Taekwondo coach

2008 Rita Gladstone, Area Tennis League coordinator (Volusia County, Fla.)

2009 Brian McCutcheon, Oahu Taekwondo Center instructor

2010 Dave Farmer, Aurora (Colo.) Saracens Rugby Club coach

2011 Tom Waga, Brigham Young University Rugby coach

2012 Don Showalter, USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team coach

2013 Bienvenido "Benny" Roman, USA Boxing Training Camp coach

2014 Kathleen Stevenson, Oklahoma Storm Junior Olympic Archer Development Team coach

Doc Counsilman Science Award

The Doc Counsilman Science Award recognizes a coach who utilizes scientific techniques and equipment as an integral part of his/her coaching methods or has created innovative ways to use sport science.

2004 Joe Vigil, USA Track & Field

2005 Dr. Kyle Pierce, USA Weightlifting

2006 Kate Arbour, U.S. Figure Skating

2007 Sean O’Neill, U.S. Paralympics Table Tennis

2008 Dave Bennett, USA Wrestling

2009 Heidi Thibert, U.S. Figure Skating and Edora Pool and Ice Center coach

2010 Dr. Grant Schaffner, U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation

2011 Neal Henderson, USA Cycling

2012 Doug Eng, U.S. Tennis Association

2013 Gordon Uehling III, U.S. Tennis Association

2014 Dave Hamilton, U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey Team director of performance science

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