Posted: May 5, 2005

Athletics: Team Running USA Coach Joe Vigil Receives USOC "Doc" Counsilman Award

At the United States Olympic Committee's Coach of the Year Recognition Banquet in Carson, California, on Sunday, May 1, renowned distance coach Joe Vigil received the "Doc" Counsilman Award.

The "Doc" Counsilman Award recognizes a coach who utilizes scientific techniques and equipment as an integral part of his or her coaching methods or has created innovative ways to use sport science. The other two finalists for this award were George Dallam, PhD (Pueblo, CO/USA Triathlon) and Kyle Pierce (Shreveport, LA/USA Weightlifting).

Throughout his more than 40 years of coaching, Vigil, a Grass Valley, AZ resident, has used the information provided by human performance data to develop specific training programs for each athlete. Considered one of the top clinicians in the world, the Team Running USA and former Adams State coach has developed many top distance runners including the 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor and U.S. Olympian and multi-national cross country champion Pat Porter.

Along with the "Doc" Counsilman Award, the USOC banquet at the Home Depot Center in Carson honored National, Developmental and Volunteer Coach of the Year winners and finalists.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.