Boyd Epley Award for Lifetime Achievement Awarded to Ken Kontor

For the past 27 years, Ken Kontor was the Founder and President of Performance Conditioning Inc. (PCI) before his retirement ended the company's operations in 2023. PCI published sports-specific newsletters, books, videos, and other training resources in conjunction with the National Governing Bodies (NGB)...

Alvin Roy Award for Career Achievement Awarded to William Kraemer

The NSCA proudly honors Dr. William J. Kraemer in recognition of his exceptional achievements in the realms of scientific research and education within the strength and conditioning field. Dr. Kraemer, a prolific scholar, boasts an impressive portfolio of over 500 peer-reviewed publications and holds one of...

NSCA Impact Award Awarded to Sue Graves

Dr. B. Sue Graves is a sharecropper’s daughter, originally from Lexa, Arkansas. Her undergraduate and Master’s degrees were completed at Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She was a physical education and math major, initially. She taught and coached in the public school systems in Arkansas, Texas, and North Carolina for over seven years. She received her Doctorate...

Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ) Editorial Excellence Award Awarded to Tessa Koschel

Dr. Tessa Koschel is the innovator of Fitness Therapy Coaching and Consulting, a program that utilizes the interplay between anthropology and neurophysiology to elicit apex human performance. From private clients to large lecture halls, Dr. K takes an interdisciplinary approach to unleash the superhuman within the professional, first responder, and perinatal...

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) Editorial Excellence Award Awarded to Jie Kang

Dr. Jie Kang is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at The College of New Jersey and a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Kang earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, Master’s from the City University of New York-Queens College, and Bachelor’s from Beijing Sports University. His research interests...

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) Editorial Excellence Award Awarded to Matt Stock

Dr. Matt Stock is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science (IEPRS) at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Stock’s research interests involve understanding the neuromuscular adaptations associated with disuse, aging/sarcopenia, and exercise rehabilitation. As IEPRS Director, he synergizes...

State/Provincial Director of the Year Award Awarded to Federick Brooks

Federick “Fed” Brooks is the Owner of Sound Sports Performance and Training and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction (CSCS,*D®) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He also serves as the NSCA Washington State Director. Fed moved to Washington in 2014 and has worked in various...

Tactical Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year, Robert G. Lockie, PhD, TSAC-F

Dr. Robert Lockie is an Associate Professor of Strength and Conditioning at California State University, Fullerton, and has been a sports and tactical researcher for more than 20 years. He has conducted numerous research projects with law enforcement, fire, military, and sports organizations.

Tactical Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year, Vernon Griffith II, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F

Vernon Griffith is a Performance Consultant and Owner of Performance Explored, LLC. He works closely with active duty and retired military special operations personnel, SWAT teams, and domestic agencies, focusing on performance and longevity. As a coach and consultant, Griffith also...

Personal Trainer of the Year Awarded to Tara De Leon

Tara De Leon is a personal trainer, Professor of Health, Fitness, and Exercise Studies, podcaster, speaker, author, and former Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach. Tara has helped hundreds of people feel badass and confident by teaching them how to lift weights and get strong, healthy, and empowered. Tara has a Master’s degree in Human...

High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Awarded to Justin Loudon

Justin Loudon celebrates his tenth year in education, beginning as a health and physical education teacher and transitioning to the role of a strength and conditioning coach. Currently, he serves as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach...

Educator of the Year Awarded to Guy Hornsby

Dr. Guy Hornsby is an Assistant Professor at West Virginia University in Coaching and Performance Science (CPS). His primary responsibilities include overseeing the strength and conditioning and applied sport science aspects within the CPS program (Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral). Additionally, he coordinates and oversees a schoolboard-funded...

Nutritional Research Achievement Award Awarded to Katie Hirsch

Katie R. Hirsch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health. Her research focuses on exercise and nutritional strategies to strengthen and sustain body composition, metabolic health, and exercise performance across the lifespan, with an emphasis on female physiology and women’s health. She contributes...

Sports Medicine/ Rehabilitation Specialist Award Awarded to Helen Binkley

Dr. Helen Binkley is an Associate Professor and Director of the Undergraduate Athletic Training Program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physical Education from the University of Delaware and her PhD in Physical Education from Temple University.

Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator Award Awarded to Dimitrije Cabarkapa

Dr. Dimitrije Cabarkapa is an Associate Director of the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory at the University of Kansas, part of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance. Strongly influenced by his personal playing experience, Dimitrije’s research interests are directed toward the field of sports science and athlete performance...

William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist Award Awarded to Rhodri Lloyd

Dr. Rhodri S. Lloyd is a Professor of Pediatric Strength and Conditioning and the Head of the Centre for Applied Sport Science and Medicine at Cardiff Metropolitan University. His research interests surround the impact of growth and maturation on long-term athletic development and the neuromuscular mechanisms underpinning training responsiveness and injury risk in...

Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year: Justin Lovett

In 2024, Justin Lovett will be entering his fifth season with the Los Angeles Rams and his fourth as Director of Strength and Conditioning. Lovett arrived in Los Angeles after spending three seasons as the Director of Football Strength and Conditioning with the Purdue University Boilermakers.

College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year: Brijesh Patel

Brijesh Patel joined Quinnipiac University in August 2008 as the Athletic Department's Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. Patel previously held the title of Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and was a Graduate Assistant at the University of Connecticut.

Assistant College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year: Kenna Smoak Minnici

Kenna (Smoak) Minnici is in her seventh year as an Associate Strength Coach at Army West Point (Army). Through her time at Army, she has worked with baseball, volleyball, and many other Olympic sports.