NSCA announces 2019 Coach of the Year awards

From the NSCA

Strength and conditioning coaches from across the nation will converge at the NSCA’s Coaches Conference this week in Indianapolis. 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.

Accepting the College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award is Robert Jones, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E. After 13 successful years at the University of Missouri, Bob Jones became William Woods University’s (WWU) first strength and conditioning coach in 2001. After one year with WWU, the injuries were cut in half. Jones currently oversees the training of all 16 sports as well as mentoring three graduate assistants and several interns.

While at WWU, Coach Jones has worked with two national champions, four runner-ups, and over 130 All-Americans. Over the past 17 years, there have been over 80 conference championships and post-season appearances. Jones has also worked with junior and senior high school athletes to prevent injuries and develop proper training techniques for the past 20 years. Last year, Jones was inducted into the WWU Athletic Hall of Fame.

At WWU, he also serves as an adjunct instructor in the exercise science department. His other duties involve managing the Weider Fitness Center and recreation program. He has also been involved with Dr. Bryan Mann and Dr. Jerry Mayhew on research projects in 2017 and 2018.

Accepting the College Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award is Ashley Jackson, MS, CSCS, RSCC. Jackson joined the University of Michigan strength and conditioning staff as a strength and conditioning coach in the fall of 2013. She is responsible for women’s lacrosse and water polo and assists with volleyball. Additionally, she is the coordinator of the Olympic Sports Strength and Conditioning Internship Program.

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During her time at Michigan, Jackson has worked with three conference championship teams (Water Polo 2016-2018), 12 All Americans, and multiple all-conference honorees.

Jackson was a professional intern for strength and conditioning at the University of Michigan from September 2012 through September 2013. She was responsible for Cheerleading and assisted primarily with women’s basketball, men’s lacrosse and women’s soccer. Prior to joining the Michigan staff, Jackson was a graduate assistant at Nova Southeastern University. There she worked with the women’s soccer, women’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, and baseball teams.

Before working at NSU, Jackson worked from 2010-11 as a sports performance coach at Xcel Performance in Friendswood, Texas. Jackson also completed an internship during 2009-10 at the University of Houston, where she assisted the staff with the women’s soccer, baseball, softball, women’s swimming, and men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Jackson began college at Hardin Simmons University, where she was a goalkeeper on the women’s soccer team. Following a transfer, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2009 from Texas A&M University, where she studied exercise physiology. In 2012, she earned a Master of Science in athletic administration from Nova Southeastern University.

“Congratulations to Coach Jones and Coach Jackson 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.”