NSCA announces 2018 Coach of the Year awards

December 6, 2017 / Strength & Conditioning

Colorado Springs, Colorado — Strength and conditioning coaches from across the nation will converge at the NSCA’s Coaches Conference on Jan. 4 to discover cutting-edge research and practical applications in strength and conditioning, presented by the industry’s most elite and respected experts.

One of the many exciting events that will be held during the conference is the award ceremony, where distinctive honors are presented to several coaches for outstanding achievement. At this event, the NSCA recognizes award winners at the professional and collegiate level, with winners selected by a volunteer committee, the NSCA’s Coaching Task Force, who determine the winners based on their contributions to the NSCA, their community, and the coaching profession.

Accepting the Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award is Matthew C. Krause, MA, ATC, CSCS, RSCC*D. Coach Krause enters his fifth season with Major League Baseball’s (MLB) New York Yankees as their Director of Strength and Conditioning. He spent 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (2003-13), including nine as their Major League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator (2005-13) and two as the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator (2003-04).

Krause was named the 2013 “Nolan Ryan – Hammer Strength” Professional Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society (PBSCCS) Coach of the Year, which honors the “outstanding strength and conditioning coach in professional baseball” whose accomplishments, in the opinion of peers, reflect an exemplary dedication to strength and conditioning.

In 2015, Krause represented the American League as the Strength Coach for the MLB All-Star Game. Prior to joining the Reds, Coach Krause spent three years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, serving as the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator from 2001-02 and the Single-A Hickory Strength Coach in 2000. He has also worked with the Chicago Cubs as an intern with Single-A Daytona in 1999.

Coach Krause earned his Master’s degree in Physical Education and Wellness from Central Florida in 1999 and his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from East Carolina University in 1997. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and is a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach with Distinction (RSCC*D) through the NSCA, as well as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). He is a national speaker for the NSCA, was the Vice President of the PBSCCS for six years, and former member of the United States Marine Corps.

Accepting the College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award is Matthew Nein, MS, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D. In his 14th year as the Coordinator of Sports Performance at Salisbury University, Coach Nein oversees the training programs of 21 varsity teams, three graduate assistants, and an intern and volunteer staff of about 10.

During his tenure as Coordinator of Sports Performance, Coach Nein has had the opportunity to work with 12 National Championship teams, eight individual National Championship athletes, and over 300 All-Americans. In 2016 and 2017, he was a finalist (top three) for the NSCA College Strength Coach of the Year award given annually to the top strength coach across National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, Division II, Division DIII, and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) divisions.

Since 2004, he has been certified as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) as well as a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach with Distinction (RSCC*D) through the NSCA. Coach Nein serves on the NSCA Advisory Board for the State of Delaware and is the chair for the NSCA Lacrosse Special Interest Group (SIG).

While not training athletes, he manages all indoor recreational facilities and serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Applied Health Physiology Department at Salisbury University. Alongside his brother, Brad, he is the co-creator and writer for the blog, EducatedCoaches.com. This informational blog is dedicated to enhancing the experiences that coaches, parents, and athletes have while participating in sports.

Prior to coming to Salisbury University, Coach Nein spent one season as a strength coach in the minor league baseball system of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball (MLB) organization. While receiving his Master’s degree in Applied Health Physiology from Salisbury University in 2004, he interned with Tim Bishop (former Strength Coach of the Baltimore Orioles MLB organization and current owner of Perform Fit) as well as the Salisbury University men’s lacrosse team.

Coach Nein received his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Towson University in 2002, where he pitched for the baseball team for five seasons and served as a captain in his final season with the squad.

“Congratulations to Coach Krause and Coach Nein on receiving these well-deserved coaching awards,” said Scott Caulfield, the NSCA’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. “Both of them have changed many lives and exemplify what it is to be an NSCA professional. We are proud to have them represent our high standards as NSCA members.”

Both coaches will receive their awards at the NSCA’s Coaches Conference, which will be held in Charlotte, NC from January 3 – 5, 2018. 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.

For more information regarding the NSCA and their awards, please visit www.nsca.com.

This information was provided by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.


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