Joel Raether named NSCA Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year

Colorado Springs, CO — The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce that Coach Joel Raether has been selected as the NSCA’s Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year for 2020. Coach Raether becomes the sixth recipient of the award, which has been handed out since 2014. Award winners are selected by a volunteer committee, the NSCA’s Coaching Task Force, which determines the winner based on their contributions to the NSCA, their community, and the coaching profession.

Raether has been the Head of Sport Performance for the Colorado Mammoth lacrosse team of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) since 2007. During this 11-year stint, the Colorado Mammoth have reached the playoffs in all but one season. During his tenure with the Colorado Mammoth, the team has produced one NLL Most Valuable Player (MVP), Rookie of the Year, Goalie of the Year, Transition Player of the Year, as well as numerous All-Pros. Raether served as the Education Programs Coordinator for the National Strength and Conditioning Association from 2009–11.

His coaching career, which spans nearly 20 years, includes stints at the University of Denver and the University of Nebraska Kearney. Raether earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Exercise Science from the University of Nebraska Kearney and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction (CSCS,*D), Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator with Distinction (TSAC-F,*D) and also a Registered Strength and ConditioningCoach with Distinction (RSCC*D) from the NSCA.

Raether co-authored the books 101 Agility Drills and 101 Sand Bag Exercises, and was a contributing author for Fit Kids for Life,Developing Agility and Quickness, and Core Training for Sport. He is published in numerous peer-reviewed articles and popular literature contributions as well as training DVDs. He is a highly sought-after presenter who has presented nationally and internationally in the area of sports performance and has also served as a consultant to the Chinese Olympic Committee, The Chicago Tribune, New Balance, Men’s Health, SOBEFit Magazine, 9 News Denver, and Wellness News.

Raether has trained athletes at all levels, including high school, NCAA, NHL, NFL, NLL, Major League Lacrosse (MLL), Major League Soccer (MLS), World Cup Skiing, and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). His coaching accolades include numerous All-Americans, over 15 conference championships, more than 10 individual or team collegiate national championships, as well as two Olympians and an Olympic Gold medal in Torino.

“Congratulations to Coach Raether for this well-deserved award,” said Scott Douglas, NSCA Sr. Director of Membership and Business Development. “He has consistently made the institutions and athletes he trains better every year. We are proud to see him recognized for his dedication to the profession.”

Coach Raether received his award at the NSCA’s Coaches Conference, being held in San Antonio from January 8-10. The conference brings together the best of the best from all reaches of the strength and conditioning industry to provide an educational experience unlike any other. From cutting-edge presentations to dynamic hands-on sessions by renowned professors, researchers, and strength coaches, attendees receive the tools to help expand their knowledge and further their careers.

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The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an international nonprofit professional association founded in 1978 and is dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning profession around the world. The NSCA advances the profession by supporting strength and conditioning professionals devoted to helping others discover and maximize their strengths.