U.S. Olympic Committee Recognizes 2016 Coaches of the Year

The United States Olympic Committee today announced its annual award recipients for 2016 national coaches of the year. On the Olympic side, Geno Auriemma (basketball; Storrs, Connecticut) and Aimee Boorman (gymnastics; Sarasota, Florida) shared the honor as National Coach of the Year, while Adam Bleakney (Paralympic track and field; Champaign, Illinois) was recognized as Paralympic National Coach of the Year. Additionally, Kim Zmeskal-Burdette (gymnastics; Houston, Texas) was selected Developmental Coach of the Year, Tom Miller (speedskating; Lake Placid, New York) was named Volunteer Coach of the Year and Derek Davis (archery; Bronx, New York) took home the Doc Councilman Science Award.

National Governing Bodies selected their 2016 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.

Co-National Coaches of the Year – Geno Auriemma, USA Basketball

In 2016, Auriemma led the U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team to its sixth straight – and eighth overall – gold medal in Rio, extending its winning streak to 49 straight. Scoring more than 100 points in six of its eight games, the 2016 squad topped opponents by an average of 37.2 points per game and became the second-most prolific Olympic scoring team, trailing only the 1996 squad. Completing the tournament with an 8-0 record, Auriemma improved his Olympic head coaching record to a perfect 16-0, stemming from 2012.

Co-National Coach of the Year – Aimee Boorman, USA Gymnastics

Boorman, the 2016 head coach for the gold‐medal-winning U.S. Olympic Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team, also served as personal coach to four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles. Under Boorman’s direction, Team USA became the first U.S. squad to defend its gold medal in the team competition and the first team to win back-to-back Olympic golds since Romania did so in 2000 and 2004. The team secured gold with 184.897 points – more than eight points over second-place Russia. Boorman also guided Biles in becoming the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history with 19 career world and Olympic medals. In Rio, Biles became the first American gymnast to win four golds at a single Games and one of only four women to accomplish the feat in Olympic history.

Paralympic National Coach of the Year – Adam Bleakney, U.S. Paralympic Track and Field

Bleakney further established himself as one of this best wheelchair racing coaches in the world after leading the U.S. women to a podium sweep in the 1,500- and 5,000-meter events against one of the strongest wheelchair fields in Paralympic Games history. He guided 12 athletes in winning 15 medals in Rio, including Tatyana McFadden (four golds, two silvers); Chelsea McClammer (two silvers, one bronze); Amanda McGrory (one silver, two bronzes); and Ray Martin (two golds, one silver). Under his tutelage, McFadden continued to dominate the wheelchair marathon scene, winning four major marathons in 2016 for the fourth consecutive year.

Developmental Coach of the Year – Kim Zmeskal-Burdette, USA Gymnastics

Zmeskal-Burdette led athletes to numerous national and international titles in junior Olympic, junior elite, and senior elite competition in 2016, including 10 medals at the 2016 Junior Olympic National Championships. Under her direction, U.S. national team member Emma Malabuyo won eight medals – including three golds – on the international circuit, marking the most international medals of any U.S. junior elite gymnast in 2016. Zmeskal also oversaw the development of Ragan Smith, who was named an alternate for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team after she finished only six-tenths of a point behind three-time Olympic champion Gabby Douglas in her senior elite debut.

Volunteer Coach of the Year – Tom Miller, Adirondack Speedskating Club

Miller guided athletes to standout performance over multiple distances in 2016, helping develop the next generation of elite U.S. speedskaters. Under his tutelage, Esther Munoz was named to the U.S. Junior Development Team for her second year, winning the 2016 Junior Ladies AmCup and finishing fifth at the U.S. Junior National Speedskating Championships. He also led Fletcher Codd to his first U.S. Junior Development Team selection, and all-around men’s titles at the Shea Sprint and Jewtraw All-Around Championships. Also under his direction, Sydney-Yu Terpening won the US Speedskating Junior C Ladies National Age Class Championship title and placed second at the US Speedskating Junior National Championships.

National Doc Counsilman Science Award – Derek Davis, USA Archery

Davis’ technological advances have greatly altered performance tracking in archery. His use of high-speed, 360-degree cameras offer athletes and coaches a more efficient perspective and comprehensive understanding of performance patterns in practice that can be applied to competition. He also implemented a brain-wave-analysis program, which helps archers ignore outside distractions and noise when shooting. The program is designed to play music at high volumes when the archer is at full draw to enhance focus during practice and competition. His teachings have led to the success of the Columbia University Women’s Archery Team, which earned national titles in both compound and recurve in 2016.

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

2015 Craig Parnham, U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey Team head coach

2016 Geno Auriemma, U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team head coach

Aimee Boorman, U.S. Olympic Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team 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

2015 John Devorss, Salem Tennis and Swim Club

2016 Adam Bleakney, U.S. Paralympic Track and Field 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

1999 Tom Healy, Northbrook Speedskating Club

2000 Fred Zimny, Luge

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

2003 Bob Fraley, Fresno State University Track and Field

2004 Dwayne Miller, Norfolk 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

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

2010 Michael Nyitray, United States Bowling Congress

2011 James Hrbek, USA Judo

2012 Michael Nyitray, United States Bowling Congress

2013 Kathleen Johnston, USA Triathlon

2014 George Ryals, Archery Learning Center

2015 Brett Wolf, Menomonee Judo Club

2016 Kim Zmeskal-Burdette, USA Gymnastics

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 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 and field)

2007 Sherman Nelson, USA Taekwondo coach

2008 Rita Gladstone, Area Tennis League coordinator

2009 Brian McCutcheon, Oahu Taekwondo Center instructor

2010 Dave Farmer, Aurora 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

2015 Carl Cepuran, Glen Ellyn Speedskating

2016 Tom Miller, Adirondack Speedskating Club

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

2015 Warren Pretorius, Tennis Analytics

2016 Derek Davis, USA Archery

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