USATF CALENDAR OF SCHOOLS
https://www.usatf.org/programs/coaches/calendar-of-schools
- Jan 7-10 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-1 (Central Time)
- Jan 14-17 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-2 (Pacific Time)
- Jan 21-24 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-3 (Central Time)
- Jan 28-31 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-4 (Eastern Time)
- Feb 4-7 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-5 (Pacific Time)
- Feb 18-20* Level 1 – Zoom #2022-7 (Eastern Time)
- Feb 25-28 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-8 (Central Time)
- March 4-7 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-9 (Mountain Time)
- March 11-14 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-10 (Pacific Time)
- March 18-20* Level 1 – Zoom #2022-11 (Eastern Time)
- March 25-28 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-12 (Pacific Time)
*Indicates Level 1 School offered in a special three-day format
Watch the Calendar of Schools for preliminary information on the summer 2022 USATF Level 2 School and the popular USATF Cross Country Specialist Course.
Bobby Kersee Named 2021 USATF Nike Coach of the Year
Bobby Kersee is the 2021 Nike Coach of the Year, earning recognition for the third time in his storied career.
Kersee, the 2005 and 2015 award winner, guided Sydney McLaughlin to two gold medals in Tokyo and a pair of world records this season in the women’s 400m hurdles. Allyson Felix, who has been coached by Kersee since late 2004, took bronze in the 400m at Tokyo and joined with McLaughlin to help Team USATF to gold in the 4x400m relay to become the most decorated Olympic track and field athlete in American history.
McLaughlin joined Kersee’s training group in the summer of 2020 and the change brought dramatic results. Undefeated this year in the 400H, McLaughlin set her first world record with a 51.90 at the Olympic Trials, beating Dalilah Muhammad, the former record-holder, by more than a half-second and taking .33 off her own lifetime best. At the Olympic Games, McLaughlin sliced even more off the WR, stopping the clock at 51.46 to break the global record by the largest margin in almost 40 years. The 22-year-old also lowered her personal best in the 100H by more than half a second to 12.65.
The 35-year-old Felix ran her second-fastest time ever with a 49.46 to medal in the 400m, and she picked up her fourth 4x400m relay gold to bring her tally to 11 career medals at the Games to overtake Carl Lewis as the most bemedaled U.S. Olympic track and field athlete.
The Coach of the Year Award was established in 1998 to recognize the outstanding achievements by coaches in our sport.
2021 USATF Coaching Education Awards
Joe Vigil Sports Science Award: Denise Wood, Ed.D, Huntington University of Health Sciences
This award recognizes a coach who is very active in the area of scholarship, and contributes to the coaching literature through presentations and publications. This award identifies a coach who utilizes scientific techniques as an integral part of his/her coaching methods, or has created innovative ways to use sport science.
Ron Buss Service Award: Andrew Allden, University of South Carolina
This award recognizes a coach that has a distinguished record of service to the profession in leadership roles, teaching, strengthening curricula and advising and mentoring coaches. This person is a leader, whose counsel others seek, and who selflessly gives his/her time and talent.
Fred Wilt/Educator of the Year Award: Richie Mercado, St. Johns School
This award recognizes a coach that has a distinguished record, which includes sustained, exceptional performance. This award is presented annually to recognize one individual who has exemplified passion and leadership nationally for the promotion of USATF Coaching Education.
Vern Gambetta/Young Professional Award: Joel Pearson, University of Arkansas-Little Rock
This award recognizes a young coach in the first 10 years of his/her career that has shown an exceptional level of passion and initiative in Coaching Education. This award is presented annually to recognize one individual who has exemplified passion and leadership nationally for the promotion of USATF Coaching Education.
Terry Crawford/Distinguished Female in Coaching Award: Kathy Butler, Run Boulder AC
This award recognizes a female coach that has shown an exceptional level of accomplishment, passion and initiative in Coaching Education. This award is presented annually to recognize one female coach who has exemplified passion and leadership nationally for the promotion of USATF Coaching Education.
Kevin McGill/Legacy Award: Terry Crawford, USATF Director of Coaching (retired)
This award recognizes a veteran coach with 25+ years of involvement that has shown an exceptional level of passion an initiative in Coaching Education. This award is presented annually to recognize one individual who has exemplified passion and leadership nationally for the promotion of USATF Coaching Education.
Level 2 Coaches/Rising Star Award: Shareese Hicks, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
This award recognizes a coach that has utilized the USATF level 2 CE program to make an impact on their coaching that includes sustained, exceptional performance. This award is presented annually to recognize one individual who has recently completed the level 2 school and it has helped to make an impact on their coaching. This award winner exemplifies the impact of the USATF Coaching Education program.
USATF Coaching Education Instructor Spotlight
An interview with Kathy Butler, OLY, Chair, USATF Coaching Education Committee
Kathy Butler is a two-time Olympian (1996, 5000m, Canada and 2004, 10,000m, Great Britain), multiple World Cross Country Championship medalist, and five-time NCAA Champion at the University of Wisconsin. Butler served as the Women’s Coach at the 2019 Great Stirling Cross Country for Team USATF, is a USATF Level 1 and 2 instructor and holds a USATF Level 3/World Athletics Academy certificate in Endurance. Butler was awarded the 2017 USATF Level 2 Coaches / Rising Star and 2021 USATF Terry Crawford/Distinguished Female in Coaching Awards.
MR: You have been involved with USATF for a number of years through coaching education and various committees. How did you get started and what interested you in USA Track & Field?
KB: I had been coaching for a while, but was interested in continuing to improve so I started with a Level 1 in Denver. Having former Wisconsin teammate Jeremy Fisher on the staff was extra incentive to catch up with him. I quickly went on to take Level 2 Endurance the next summer and managed to have a quick chat with Terry Crawford in between lectures. She encouraged me to get more involved with the Colorado Association and to look at taking the Instructor Training Course. Between her encouragement and the rapport of Dave Mills, Troy Engle and Mike Smith as instructors I wanted to stay as involved and learn as much as I could.
MR: You just completed your first year as Chair of the USATF Coaching Education Committee. What are some of the highlights from the past year and what is the committee looking forward to in 2022?
KB: A big highlight for this year has been seeing everyone come together and work so well. The executive committee has a varied and diverse background resulting in some great opinions and expertise. I’m really excited to start to see the results of lots of hard work in 2022, hopefully returning to some in-person courses, new courses and improving our live zoom options, watch this space!!!
MR: Despite having competed at the highest levels of the sport, and training under UW and USTFCCCA Hall of Fame Coach Peter Tegen, and former World Marathon record holder Steve Jones, you have placed a great emphasis on coaching education. What inspired you and how did coaching education help your transition from elite athlete to coach?
KB: I have a science background with a double major in Kinesiology (Exercise Physiology) and Biology, so I’ve always enjoyed the scientific approach. I like reading new research studies that are relevant to coaching and running which means that continuing to learn as much about coaching as I could was a priority for me. I started coaching while I was still an elite athlete and it was something I always wanted to do. Seeing athletes progress is even more rewarding than when I was an athlete and often, I get just as nervous for them as I did myself!
MR: You have been a Division I volunteer coach and coached state champions at Nederland High School, numerous U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers through Run Boulder AC and served as a USATF international team coach. How have these experiences molded you as a coach and your definition of success?
KB: I love the puzzles of coaching. Figuring out what makes a person perform at their best, this could be a great training plan, fitting together their life with their sport, but it is also finding out their “why”. At all levels there are many different kinds of “why” and if you know that you know what success is for the athlete. If the athlete is successful, then I feel successful. It is cliché now to say that it is about the process, but with a coach-athlete relationship this is so true. Success could be taking an athlete who hasn’t been healthy for years before they work with you and getting them to a start line, it could be developing a love for running that lasts a lifetime or it could be Olympic finals.
MR: And lastly, what is your favorite USATF course to instruct and why?
KB: The Level 2 endurance is my favorite. There are so many chances to truly get to know the students and everyone is so interesting. When we are in-person one of my favorite things is the walk to the dining hall and meal times chatting with students, fellow instructors and of course you Matt!
MR: Thank you Kathy. You’re too kind. I appreciate you being a part of our first instructor profile and giving our readers some insight into your career and passion for not only the sport, but coaching education.
Verify Your Standing on the USATF Coaches Registry for the New Year
USATF members are encouraged to start 2022 off by verifying their compliance with USATF Coaches Registry requirements. Don’t be caught off-guard at 2022 USATF Championships with a lapsed requirement. Members must be current with all USATF Coaches Registry requirements to receive a coach credential at USATF Championships. Members may verify their status by querying the public list with their name. Members’ whose name is not listed on the public Coaches Registry List should login to their membership profile on USATF Connect. A green, current status must be displayed under each individual requirement (Membership, Center for SafeSport Training, Background Screening and Coach Certifications). All requirements must be current through the last date of competition to qualify for a registered coach credential. In addition, members must be listed on the club profile and/or designated by declared athlete during the specified USATF Championship. Please be advised US Center for SafeSport Training is now an every 365-day requirement and NCSI background screens are valid for two years from date of acceptance.
If you have not logged into your membership profile since USATF Connect launched (May 2020), you must first recover your account (click Recover Account button) on the login page to begin the process.
Public Coaches Registry List