Air Force Coaching Staff Earns USAG Awards
3/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
March 27, 2010
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Hours after leading the Air Force men's gymnastics team to its first-ever USA Gymnastics national collegiate title, the Falcons' coaching staff was received a pair of coaching accolades. Fifth-year head coach Kip Simons was named the USAG Varsity Head Coach of the Year, while assistant coaches Brett McClure and Lt Col Chuck Schweiss were named the USAG Varsity Assistant Coaches of the Year.
Since taking over the Air Force program in 2005, Simons has guided the Falcons up the national rankings. Air Force won its first-ever varsity team title on Friday night, bettering the field by over seven points. Simons, who also earned the USAG Coach of the Year award in 2008, has coached one NCAA All-American (two certificates), one Nissen-Emery finalist, four USAG champions (10 titles) and 17 USAG All-Americans (35 certificates).
McClure is in his fourth season as an assistant for Simons, while Schweiss is in his second. This is the first time in the history of the program that the assistant coaches have earned this specific honor, although former assistant Lt Col Ivan Merritt was earned the CGA's top assistant award in 1998.
Several other awards were handed out at the conclusion of the USAG Championships, as voted on by the championship head coaches. Joining the Falcons' staff as a varsity award winner was William and Mary's Derek Gygax, who claimed the Senior Gymnast of the Year award. Gygax was also recently named as a finalist for the Nissen-Emery award, which is handed out each year to the nation's top senior gymnast.
Among collegiate/club teams, Arizona State's Scott Barclay was named the Head Coach of the Year, while the Sun Devils' Rob Survick and Dan Hayden were honored as the Assistant Coaches of the Year. Arizona State, which claimed its 13th club title in 14 years, swept the collegiate awards, as Dylan Sanders was named the Senior Gymnast of the Year.
