USATT Opens Nominations for 2025 Coach of the Year Awards

USA Table Tennis moved quickly at the end of 2025 to invite the community to recognize outstanding coaching across the country. On December 30, USATT opened nominations for its 2025 Coach of the Year awards, and nominations are being accepted through January 15, 2026 via an online submission form. The short window makes immediate action essential for clubs, athletes, and supporters who want to acknowledge influential coaches.

The awards cover multiple categories to reflect the range of coaching roles in the sport. Categories listed include National Coach of the Year for elite-level coaches, the Mark Nordby Developmental Coach of the Year for youth, school, and junior coaches, Volunteer Coach of the Year for unpaid community coaches, National Paralympic Coach of the Year for para-level elite coaches, and the "Doc" Counsilman Award for coaches who integrate sport science and innovation into their work. The program is designed to honor excellence across competitive performance, grassroots development, and creative training methods.

Eligibility is straightforward: nominees must be currently coaching or within their first year of retirement. USATT asks nominators to emphasize a coach’s impact on athlete development, community service, and coaching excellence when preparing submissions. The USATT announcement also provides submission instructions and links to the supporting documentation required for each nomination, so nominators should follow those details closely to ensure a complete entry.

For practical use, identify candidates who have made measurable or demonstrable contributions over the past year and collect the materials specified on the USATT nomination page. Because the deadline falls on January 15, 2026, prepare and submit entries as soon as possible to avoid last-minute issues. Clubs and players should also coordinate internally so volunteer and developmental coaches receive nominations from multiple supporters when appropriate.

These awards serve both recognition and visibility functions for the table tennis community. Honoring coaches in volunteer and developmental roles highlights the unpaid labor and youth development that sustain local clubs, while the Doc Counsilman Award elevates coaching innovation and the application of sport science. Winning or being nominated can raise a coach’s profile, help attract new players and volunteers, and reinforce best practices across programs.

Submit nominations through the online form on the USATT site before January 15, 2026, and follow the provided instructions for supporting documentation to ensure eligibility and full consideration.