Behind every great athlete is a great coach. Meet our 2011 Coach of the Year Winners:
Lisa Hawk - CA
Lisa Hawk is the Exercise & Health Science Department Chair, Athletic Director and lacrosse coach at the Preuss School at UCSD. The Preuss School is a nationally recognized school that serves a low income diverse population. Lisa received her Masters from the University of Maryland where she also served as a coach and administrator. Lisa is an advocate for sports as a tool for positive youth development and is changing lives through her work. Her athletes recognize how special Lisa is: “She sees the potential in each of her players and does not quit until that spark she sees within us is released for the public eye to see. She has helped me through the turbulence of a teenage life to the hectic lifestyle at home and has given me a comfortable place to go as well as someone to turn to.”
Ktrice McNeill - NY
Ktrice McNeill is the 2011 Coach Across America Coach of the Year recipient. Ktrice recently completed his year of service coaching basketball at Edenwald Community Center in New York. Ktrice is a NY native influenced by his parents who reminded him daily that "without education you have nothing." Growing up in an inner city where gang violence and drugs were prevalent, Ktrice understands first-hand that “sports give me and other young people in my community a safe haven to feel secure and feel like there's not a care in the world.” Ktrice played basketball throughout middle school and high school, which gave him discipline and confidence. Ktrice graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology with his associate's degree in marketing. He received a basketball scholarship to Southern Connecticut State University for two years, and had an opportunity to play overseas in Italy. As a coach, Ktrice aims to use his voice to teach young people that "failure is not an option."
Renato Paiva - CA
Renato Paiva is Executive Director of Access Youth Academy, a program designed around 3 pillars – academics, the sport of squash and community service. He joined Access Youth Academy in May of 2007 from Harvard University where he was the Assistant Coach of the squash team. Originally from Brazil, Renato was a Brazilian Junior Champion and a top junior in South America. Renato graduated from Ruy Barbosa University with a business degree. Many of Renato’s students submitted nominations with personal stories of how their lives have been changed. “Renato has completely transformed the lives of underprivileged inner city children in the San Diego area by teaching them the game of squash and getting them to excel in the sport, and in life.”
Faye Stevens-Jett - IL
Faye Stevens-Jett is a Physical Education Teacher and Athletic Director at Morton School of Excellence in Chicago, Illinois. She is a proud single mother of two boys (JaQuan Carr, 17 and Tony Jett Jr, 11.) For the past eleven years, she has coached double dutch, cheerleading, and pom-pom. In addition to her many city championships, she has impacted many young lives through her work. Faye stresses the importance of fitness, teambuilding and health/nutrition to her students. Faye received several nominations highlighting her work ethic and commitment to her students: “Faye goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure her students have the things they need. She is consistently incredible.”
Winning coaches receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Up2Us National Summit (October 4th - 6th) and be recognized at the Coach of the Year Reception on Capitol Hill.
This contest is now closed.
Read all of this year's nominations.
Learn more about the 2010 winning coaches. Click here to read their nominations.