USA Triathlon has recognized ‘six of its most influential coaches as 2020 Coaches of the Year for their contributions during the unusual 2020 triathlon season.’
The awards for 2020 focused on athlete development, community impact, volunteer service and coaching education — areas where awardees provided value during a season in which most elite and national racing was put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stephanie Grasky, Marcus Fitts, Shelly O’Brien, Brian Grasky, James Petersen and Dan Engelhard received Coach of the Year honours across four categories.
Nominations were open to the public, and category winners were determined by a USA Triathlon selection panel of coaching and sport education professionals.
Community Impact Award: Stephanie Grasky and Marcus Fitts
The Community Impact Award honours a coach or coaches who have demonstrated significant impact in their community, and who epitomize the USA Triathlon mission of growing and inspiring the triathlon/multisport community.
Stephanie Grasky is the founder and head coach of the Junior Elite Triathlon Squad (JETS), a USA Triathlon High Performance Team and youth triathlon club in Tucson, Arizona, as well as a co-owner of two bike/triathlon shops and a Physician’s Assistant in Family Practice. Though the team typically takes athletes to USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals and other races throughout the year, in the COVID-19 environment of 2020, Grasky shifted almost immediately to a focus on foundational development training versus racing.
In addition to her junior squad, Grasky also coaches several adult athletes in the community and often volunteers to help community athletes with cyclocross or bike handling skills, swim and run mechanics and transition skills.
Marcus Fitts is the founder of GRIT USA, a Washington, DC-based adult triathlon club whose mission is to advance people to new limits, inspire communities and enact socio-cultural change. Fitts was featured on the covers of USA Triathlon Magazine in summer 2020 and Triathlete in January 2021 for his work to amplify black voices in triathlon and multisport.
In the spring of 2020, GRIT USA members participated in The Speed Project DIY, the virtual version of a highly coveted running race across Death Valley. Club members dedicated the run to raising money for five non-profit organizations that address inequalities in health, fight systemic injustice and create pathways to opportunity in underserved communities.
Between all participating teams, GRIT USA raised US$85,385. Fitts and GRIT USA also collaborated with the organizers of Run the Polls during election season, leading multiple community runs/walks to increase voter participation.
Coach Educators of the Year: Shelly O’Brien and Brian Grasky
The Coach Educator of the Year award honours a Coach Educator or American Development Model (ADM) Sport Educator who has made an impact in the coaching education space.
Shelly O’Brien is the head coach of IconOne Multisport in San Antonio, Texas, and has taught at more than 50 USA Triathlon coach certifications during her career as a coach educator.
In 2020, O’Brien hosted a two-day run/swim clinic for coaches in Clermont, Florida; recorded a podcast interview with USA Triathlon about coaching athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic; presented an online course on periodization as part of USA Triathlon’s Level II coaching certification; wrote content for USA Triathlon’s Performance Coaching Newsletter; and coached virtual swim sessions for USA Triathlon’s Select Junior Triathlon Camp.
Brian Grasky is the head coach of Grasky Endurance Coaching in Tucson, Arizona, routinely coaching his athletes to USA Triathlon National Championships and IRONMAN All-World Athlete honours. Grasky presented on run mechanics at USA Triathlon’s inaugural Endurance Exchange conference, held in January 2020 in Tempe, Arizona.
His 2020 coach educator contributions also include working with the USA Triathlon Coaching Education staff on strategic changes to the Level I and Level II coach certification course layout and materials.
Grasky is also a member of the USA Triathlon National Coaching Committee, providing feedback and advising USA Triathlon staff on topics related to coaching education and staff.
Developmental Coach of the Year: James Petersen
The Developmental Coach of the Year award honours 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. James Petersen is the head coach of JP Elite, a New England-based professional and elite development squad focused on World Triathlon and IRONMAN racing.
Petersen is recognized in part for his unique considerations in support of athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was able to develop a plan and logistics for the JP Elite team that would allow them to train together while following COVID-19 safety guidelines and best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Petersen and the JP Elite team also saw the need for increased conversation and accountability to combat racism in the summer of 2020. In a proactive effort to foster diversity, equity, inclusion and access in triathlon and multisport, the team hosted a fundraiser benefiting two NCAA collegiate triathlon programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as the International Association of Black Triathletes.
Volunteer Coach of the Year: Dan Engelhard
The Volunteer Coach of the Year award honours a coach who does not receive payment in any form for their involvement in coaching at any level.
Dan Engelhard is the head coach of the St Louis High School Triathlon Club – better known simply as High School TriClub – a non-competitive, participation-based club whose goal is to address the health crisis in America by teaching youth how to take care of their bodies.
Engelhard has continued to grow youth participation despite the challenges of the past year. He has organized outdoor training and activities allowing for social distancing and encouraging parent participation. With the help of parents who convinced their neighbourhood association to allow a private event under strict COVID-19 safety protocols, Engelhard was able to coordinate, organize and recruit volunteers to host a sprint-distance triathlon for members of the High School TriClub. Engelhard’s enthusiasm has caused the High School TriClub to grow annually.
