Indianapolis, IN –Over the past decade, U.S. Snowboarding halfpipe riders have dominated international competition. U.S. Snowboarding Pro Halfpipe Team Coach Rick Bower, from Park City, Utah, was named 2011 Olympic Coach of the Year by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC).
“I feel this award speaks for the overall progress of the sport of halfpipe snowboarding and I feel very fortunate to be a part of that progression,” said Bower. “Our U.S. Snowboarding athletes make my job easy – they are all so internally motivated, and on such a high level of performance collectively, that they are able to continually push each other to achieve athletic success. This dynamic is equally fun to be a part of seeing as most of these athletes are great friends on and off the snow as well as being each other’s top competition.”
It was the third time since 2002 a U.S. Snowboarding halfpipe coach has won the award, following Pete del’Giudice in 2002 and Bud Keene in 2006. Now in his sixth year of coaching, Bower was recognized by the USOC for playing an integral role in advancing women’s snowboarding, leading his athletes to 31 major event podiums in 2011 and helping Olympic Champion Kelly Clark become the first woman to land a 1080 in competition.
“Rick Bower is a great example of how a coach’s leadership applied to athletes can be a major difference maker in athletic success,” said Bill Marolt, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) President and CEO, Bill Marolt. “Rick’s vision along with his ability to create a team environment,apply technical knowledge and to communicate has led to success not only from athletes like Olympic champion Kelly Clark but from an entire team. As an organization, our investment in coaches like Rick has been a real game changer across all of our sports.”
“Behind every great athlete is a great team of people,” added Clark. “I’m just one of many athletes who have had the privilege of working with Ricky. He really deserves this award and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Bower received the award at the USOC’s National Coaches Conference in Indianapolis, where AXIS Freeride coach and founder Chris “Hatch” Haslock, also of Park City, was one of three finalists for Development Coach of the Year, an award that ultimately went to James Hrbek of USA Judo.
PAST USOC OLYMPIC COACHES OF YEAR
1996 Tara VanDerveer, U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Coach
1997 Frank Carroll, Olympic Figure Skating Coach, Coach of Michelle Kwan
1998 Ben Smith, U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Coach
1999 Chris Carmichael, Cycling Coach, Coach of Lance Armstrong
2000 Richard Quick, U.S. Olympic Women’s Swimming Coach
2001/02 Pete del’Giudice, U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Coach
2003 Lloyd Woodhouse, USA Shooting National Team Coach
2004 Mike Candrea, USA Softball Women’s National Team Coach
2005 Eddie Reese, USA Swimming Men’s National Team Coach
2006 Bud Keene, U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Coach
2007 Guy Baker, USA Water Polo National Team Coach
2008 Hugh McCutcheon, USA Men’s Volleyball National Team Coach
2009 Bob Bradley, U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team Coach
2010 Brian Shimer, U.S. Men’s Bobsled Head Coach
2011 Rick Bower, U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Coach
2011 USOC COACH OF YEAR RECIPIENTS
Olympic Coach of the Year: Rick Bower, U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Coach
Paralympic Coach of the Year: Dave Denniston, U.S. Paralympic Swimming Coach
Development Coach of the Year: James Hrbek, USA Judo
Volunteer Coach of the Year: Tom Waga, Brigham Young University Rugby Coach
Doc Counsilman Science Award: Neil Henderson, USA Cycling