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After four decades of leadership in the commercial creative field, Atlanta’s Steven Lester fully embraced his passion for painting and quickly gained notoriety for what he calls “representational expressionism.” Because Lester’s action sports themes resonate with vibrant life and elicit a visceral, emotional response, he was named the United States Sports Academy’s 2019 Sport Artist of the Year. Lester received the 2019 Sport Artist of the Year – Dr. Znenliang He Culture Award from Academy President Dr. T.J. Rosandich and unveiled an original painting of American gymnast Simone Biles at the Academy’s 35th annual Awards of Sport program in Daphne, Ala. The painting, called “Courage to Soar,” depicts Biles performing on the balance beam at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The piece is now on permanent [...]

Former longtime University of Tennessee women’s athletics director Joan Cronan can add a new title to her already impressive list of career accomplishments after she received an Honorary Doctorate from the United States Sports Academy. Each year as part of its Awards of Sport program, the Academy presents honorary doctorates to people who have made outstanding contributions to sport and to society. Cronan, an Academy Trustee, received the award from Academy President Dr. T.J. Rosandich and Board of Trustees Chairman Robert C. Campbell III at the institution’s 35th annual Awards of Sport program in Daphne, Ala. Cronan served as the women’s athletics director at Tennessee for 29 years until 2012. During her tenure, Tennessee expanded women’s varsity sports from seven to 11, the Lady Vols earned 10 NCAA titles and [...]

The most decorated gymnast in history and a global figure skating sensation have been named the United States Sports Academy’s male and female Athletes of the Month for October. American gymnast Simone Biles and Japanese superstar Yuzuru Hanyu took home the top honors for the month. Hanyu won the Skate Canada men’s title by 59.82 points, the largest margin in Grand Prix figure skating history, in competition in October 2019. Hanyu won with a personal best total of 322.59, the highest point total in the world this season. Biles won five gold medals at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, in October 2019, and became the most decorated gymnast in world championships history with 25 career world medals. Biles also completed two skills never performed by a [...]

The Academy congratulates the following graduates who completed their degrees this month. Doctoral Graduate Dr. Angela Renee Morenz (Carlinville, Ill.) – Ed.D. Sports Management, Sports Leadership emphasis Master’s Graduates Ashley Nicole Froelich (Seattle, Wash.) – M.S.S. Sports Studies Niul S. Manske (Portland, Ore.) – M.S.S. Sports Studies Bachelor’s Graduates Diane Christine Acarley-Sandall (Patrick AFB, Fla.) – B.S.S. Sports Management Jeremiah Addison Diedrich Putney (Tampa, Fla.) – B.S.S. Sports Coaching

The United States Sports Academy’s program to prepare strength and conditioning professionals for the preeminent certification examination in their field completed its important pilot program phase in October 2019. The Academy’s Sports Strength and Conditioning Certification (SSCC) pilot program is part of the institution’s efforts to develop a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) approved preparation program to help strength and conditioning professionals as they take their Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam – the preeminent certification of its kind, but the average pass rate for it is 56 percent, with international candidates passing at significantly lower rates. Academy chair of sports coaching,  Dr. Roch King, recently accompanied a group of sports professionals selected by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) for the SSCC pilot to the NSCA headquarters [...]