MCKINNEY, Tex. — University of La Verne Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Durant '99 was named the National Sports Performance Association (NSPA) 2017 Coach of the Year, the organization announced at their first annual national conference.
Durant becomes the first-ever recipient of the NSPA Coach of the Year award.
"I was shocked when they announced my name," said Durant. "I don't do my job for awards or recognition, I do it because I love working with young people to help them achieve their goals and be better athletes and people. I'm blessed to have coaches and an administration that buy into my system, and athletes who want to get better."
The NSPA is a fairly new organization that provides resources and certifications to sports performance coaches throughout the country.
Durant also earned status as one of NSPA's first Master Sports Performance Coaches during the convention for mastering four different areas of sports performance including speed and agility, weightlifting, program design, and sports nutrition.
"For me what I hang my hat on is relationship building and helping people realize that they can do more than they thought, not only in sports but in life," said Durant.
Durant is in his 16th year leading La Verne's strength and conditioning program.
According to the NSPA's website, their core objective is "to empower sports performance coaches with the knowledge they need to help their athletes reach their potential by providing world-class education from the industry's best in-the-trenches coaches. It's for sports performance coaches who are dedicated and driven to get their athletes better."
