A national non-profit organization dedicated to elevating and enhancing the professions of sport coaching, coach education and coach development.
Coach Educator/ Coach Developer Legacy Award Hall of Fame
The United States Center for Coaching Education's Coach Educator/ Coach Developer Legacy Award was established in 2017 to honor individuals who have made a significant contribution to the field of sport coaching education and coach development in the United States. To learn more about the Legacy Award Criteria and about how to nominate someone, please click here.
Interested in nominating a candidate for the 2022 Legacy Hall of Fame?
The call for nominations closes February 28.
Review the criteria and nominate a candidate.
Contact us at info@USCoachExcellence.org for more information
Meet the 2019 Inductees
Coach Educator/Coach Developer Legacy Award Hall of Fame
Judith Young
Paul Roetert
Jody Brylinsky
Tim Flannery
Cathy Sellers 2019 Inductee
Recently retired from the United States Olympic Committee. Served the last nine years as the Director of Paralympic Track and Field. A track and field coach for over 40 years at multiple levels- High School level, Collegiate level ( Stephen F. Austin State and The Ohio State University) and Team USA.
The Rio Paralympic track and field team garnered 43 medals, more than any sport in Olympics or Paralympics since 1972.
Previously served as the Manager of the USOC Coaching program and editor of Olympic Coach magazine prior to Paralympics. Was the Manager for Development Programs for USA Track and Field for eight years managing USATF Coaching Education program, Juniors, Men and Women’s Sport Development.
Annette K. Lynch 2019 inductee
In June 2016 Lynch transitioned to developing her own company – AKL Connection, LLC – a human development company … coaching others to connect their dreams with reality. Lynch now uses her many years of experience and expertise to help others inside and outside Special Olympics. Her focus is assisting individuals and organizations improve their communication skills, relationship building and maximizing their capabilities so that they become consistent top performers.
Her career in sport has included recent work with the Special Olympics Movement spanning October of 1989 through 2004, then returning full-time in June of 2008 with Special Olympics North America (SONA). Her major focus and passion has been coaching excellence and sport education with oversight of coach development (education; recruitment; retention; recognition), the train-the-trainer program, Athlete Leadership, Unified Sports®, and relationships with National Governing Bodies and sport organizations (USOC; NBA; NCAA; ASEP; NFHS; NCACE; SHAPE … just to name a few). In addition, Lynch was SONA’s liaison to the World Games, Coach Education Resource Team, Global Unified Sports® Advisory Group, Global Basketball Resource Committee, Program Excellence Committee and the Positive Coaching Alliance Advisory Group. In addition, she managed the USA National Bowling Tournament and the Penn Relays. She developed three online courses: Principles of Coaching for Special Olympics (West Virginia University Extended Learning; Coaching Special Olympics Athletes (Human Kinetics American Sport Education Program); Coaching Unified Sports® (National Federation of State High Schools).
Before her 8-year tenure with SONA (2008-2016), Lynch served as director of education and membership services with the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) from 2004-2008. At NACWAA, she oversaw not only education and professional development for the association and its members through three Institutes and its National Convention, but also the management of the membership campaigns and database. She also contributed to the Weekly Update, Annual Report, Strategic Planning and Board meeting preparations. Lynch was able to assume this position because of the experience gained from a total of 15 years with Special Olympics Maryland and Special Olympics, Inc. and her previous 22 years of sport education, teaching and coaching at the junior high, high school, collegiate and professional levels.
As vice president of sports development and education with Special Olympics Maryland from 2000-2004, Lynch administered the development of sports programming, which included creating and managing sport-specific development teams, coaching education, Unified Sports®, competition, volunteers, and families plus the train-the-trainer program. She also managed four staff members: director of competition, director of coach education, director of volunteer management and families’ coordinator. These skills came as a direct result of her experience gained in sport and in Special Olympics.
Early in her career at Special Olympics International, Lynch managed the train-the-trainer program (training people and developing materials), which assisted in the training and education of Special Olympics coaches and officials, worldwide. These resources and materials included the development of the Special Olympics Global Coach Education System (approved by the SOI Board of Directors in December of 1999 and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) in June of 2001 and re-accredited in 2010 and 2018), Sport-specific Program Guides, Sport-specific Skills and Tactics Courses and Instructor Guides, the Principles of Coaching Course and Instructor Course, Officials Course and Instructor Guide, Unified Sports® Course and Games Management Training Course and Instructor Course. In addition, she oversaw training school applications, coaches' and officials' certifications, and needs’ assessment requests from the Accredited Programs. With the latter, she worked with individual Special Olympics Accredited Programs, regional advisors, and regional sport managers in putting together plans whereby those educational requests and materials were fulfilled.
Concerning her previous positions, Lynch joined Special Olympics, Inc. in 1989 as basketball director, and in 1992 she became coach education director for team sports and the editor of the Coaches Quarterly (1993-1995). In 1996, she became senior sports training manager; in June of 1997, director of sports training and education and in January 1998, the director of coach education. 1 September 2000, Lynch accepted the position as vice president of sports development and education with Special Olympics Maryland. She joined a dedicated staff in a very progressive program that valued social inclusion and improving the quality of services to Special Olympics athletes.
Born in Sterling, Illinois, with formative education also in Illinois, Lynch received a Bachelor of Science degree at Illinois State University. There she majored in physical education, minored in psychology, and competed in basketball, field hockey, golf, track and field, and volleyball. After graduation, she played on the USA Women’s Basketball Team, which was followed by teaching and coaching in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Virginia. While in Pennsylvania and at Lehigh University, she acquired her Master’s degree in education with an emphasis on human development (counseling). Additional honors included: induction into the Illinois State University and Sterling High School Athletics Halls of Fame. Lynch has extensive experience in coaching at nearly every level: junior high (Indian Valley and Easton, PA), high school (North Kansas City, MO, and Easton, PA), NCAA Division II (Lehigh University then), NCAA Division I (Northwestern University and University of Rhode Island), and Special Olympics (1990-1999; 2008-2016).
Her experiences have included speaking at well over 515 professional groups, Program staff, coaches’ clinics, youth camps and banquets. She has also assisted programs in developing communication and team-building skills as well as developing their goals and improving their time management systems. Her approach to leadership excellence is grounded in the belief that people at all levels in an organization, people on teams or as part of a work group, can be consistent top performers. Creating conditions so that others can do their best work begins with establishing relationships, motivating efforts and influencing attitudes … it is helping others help themselves so that they are able to unlock their potential and replicate success despite the challenges.
Coach Educator/Coach Developer Legacy Award Hall of Fame
Judith Young
Paul Roetert
Jody Brylinsky
Tim Flannery
Judith Young - 2018
Dr. Judith Young was the Vice President for Programs at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) for 10 years, retiring in May 2012. In that position, Dr. Young managed all of the programmatic work of the five national associations that made up AAHPERD (now SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators), which collectively represented over 50,000 professionals in the physical activity related fields of physical education, kinesiology, health education/promotion, sport, and dance. In addition, she facilitated programmatic aspects of the annual National Convention and Exposition and the periodicals and publications of the organization.
Previously, Dr. Young was the Executive Director of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), the largest of the AAHPERD associations for 15 years. Prior to her work as staff at AAHPERD, she taught at all PK-12 grade levels and in higher education; conducted research and supervised graduate students; coached college, school and youth sports; officiated several sports; served as athletic administrator at the University of Maryland; and advocated for quality programs. During her tenure at NASPE, she facilitated the development of the first-ever National Standards for Sport Coaches, the basis for establishing a program of voluntary review for coach education and preparation (NCACE). She also supported the development and implementation of PK-12 Standards for Physical Education, National Standards for Teaching of Physical Education and the National Standards for Applied Exercise Science. In addition to establishing the national standards, she tirelessly promoted the components of quality physical education and led advocacy efforts to establish the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress program (better known as the PEP grant) that provided the first ever federal grants targeting physical education.
Dr. Young came out of retirement in 2017 to serve as Interim CEO of SHAPE America and continues to be actively involved in her field related to physical activity, health and physical education, and sport as well as advocacy for support of health and physical education and quality sport programs for children and youth.
She has written and spoken widely on sport, physical education and physical activity topics and has been the executive editor of several publications. She has been recognized for her work through numerous awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award, President’s Council for Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, 2010; Distinguished Alumnae Award, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Maryland, 2006; NAKPEHE Distinguished Administrator Award, 2007; and Charter Member of the North American Society of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport, and Dance, 2000. In March 2017, she was inducted into the SHAPE America Hall of Fame.
Throughout her career Dr. Young has reached out beyond the HPERD profession to educate others in business, government, and civic organizations concerning the value of physical and health education, healthy physical activity, sport and dance. She has represented the profession admirably as a member of various national boards of directors, including Action for Healthy Kids (board chair for six years), the Coalition for Healthy Active Americans, the Council for Corporate and School Partnerships, US Olympic Committee Multi-sport Council and the former United States Collegiate Sports Council. She has also contributed to numerous collaborative initiatives on the national level, including the Healthy People 2010 Consortium, Citizenship through Sports Alliance and the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition.
Dr. Young received her BS degree in physical education from the University of New Hampshire and her MS and PhD in kinesiology from the University of Maryland.
A parent of three children and grandparent of six, Dr. Young also enjoys and models active participation in many forms of physical activity. She lives on Kent Island in the Chesapeake Bay.
Paul Roetert - 2017
E. Paul Roetert, Ph.D., FACSM has been an organization executive who has specifically focused on sports, coaching education and physical activity for the past few of decades. Most recently he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Society of Health and Physical Educators - SHAPE America (2010-2017). SHAPE America is the largest organization of professionals involved in school-based health, physical education and physical activity who are dedicated to teaching and promoting active, healthy lifestyles. Prior to this position, he was the Managing Director of the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA’s) Player Development Program and Tournament Director of the US Open Junior Tennis Championships (2002-2009). He was also the Executive Director for the American Sport Education Program at Human Kinetics.
Roetert has published extensively in the fields of coaching education and physical literacy as well as sports medicine and science, including five books, more than 25 book chapters, and well over 100 articles. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He is a sought after speaker both nationally and internationally and has presented in countries such as Australia, Canada, England, France, Netherlands, Paraguay, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Thailand and Turkey. Roetert is a Fellow with the American College of Sports Medicine and among many other awards, he received the Editorial Excellence Award in 1999 from the National Strength and Conditioning Association for his work on the Journal of Strength and Conditioning and Research, the 2000 the Outstanding Alumni award from the University of Connecticut and the 2002 Educational Merit Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame for outstanding service to the game of tennis. Roetert received his Ph.D. in biomechanics from the University of Connecticut.
Jody Brylinsky - 2017
Jody Brylinsky is currently (5 years) the Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness at Western Michigan University, having served for the past 22 years as Professor and Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Coaching Sport Performance program in the Department of Health Education and Human Performance. Her responsibilities include facilitation of the University and Academic Affairs Strategic Plan; maintenance and reaffirmation of Institutional Accreditation through the compliance with the Higher Learning Commission.
She is a current Fellow in the North American Society for Sport and Physical Education, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, a Past President of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, member of the NASPE Sport Hall of Fame, author of numerous publications advancing coaching education, of note the “National Standards for Sport Coaches,” and the “National Coaching Report: The State of Coaching in the U.S.A.”
Dr. Brylinsky is a former high school coach, college athletic director, coach and athlete. She was selected as a USOC Project Gold participant and is currently a consultant for a number of national governing bodies within the USOC, and Special Olympics Inc. In 2010 Dr. Brylinsky was honored by the WMU “W” Club as Women of the Year for contribution to the university and community. The focus of her instruction and research interests during her 26 years at WMU involve all aspects of coach education and the social/psychological development of athletes.
Tim Flannery - 2017
Tim Flannery, CMAA, AIC,CIC, was a former athletic administrator from Ohio and Director of Coach Education for the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). His duties with the NFHS included the creation of a multi-level coach education/certification program for that began with two (2) courses in 2007 and has grown to more than forty (40) courses currently.
During his term as NIAAA President in 1995, Tim initiated the NIAAA's Leadership Training Program, and assisted in the development of (LTC 505) and (LTC 520).
Tim authored "Personnel Management for Sports Directors" a 192-page book designed to aid athletic directors in all personnel matters from hiring coaches and officials to working with support staff and contest officials. The book was published by Human Kinetics.
He has made over 100 presentations at national and state conferences and authored more than 40 articles for publications such as Olympic Coach, Interscholastic Athletic Administrator, National Federation News, High School Today and Coaches Quarterly Magazines.
In 2001 he was inducted into the Northeast Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s Hall of Fame and the Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the NASPE Hall of Fame in 2012 and the NIAAA Hall of Fame in 2013. Last summer Tim was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in Reno, Nevada at the NFHS annual Summer Meeting.