USA Triathlon Honors 2009’s Top Coaches

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon announced Tuesday that Tim Crowley and Adam Zucco have been honored as the organization's coaches of the year for 2009. Crowley was selected as USAT's National Coach of the Year, while Zucco claimed Developmental Coach of the Year accolades.

Both Crowley and Zucco were selected for coaching their athletes to top finishes on both the national and international stages last season.

Crowley, who runs TC2 Training/Coaching in Marlborough, Mass., coaches a number of the nation's top triathletes, including U.S. Olympian Jarrod Shoemaker, Alicia Kaye, Sean Jefferson and Nicholas Sterghos.

"With so many great USAT coaches, it is a great honor to be selected," said Crowley. "So much time and effort goes into getting the athletes prepared to perform well on the international stage, that it's nice to be recognized for all that work."

Crowley was honored for his success last season with Shoemaker, who was selected as the 2009 USAT Elite Triathlete of the Year. Under Crowley's tutelage, Shoemaker was the top-ranked American (10^th) in the 2009 ITU World Championship Series standings.

Shoemaker had a memorable and dominant victory in the 2009 Hamburg ITU World Championship Series race after being forced to withdraw from the Kitzbuhel event due to hypothermia. "The win was great, but his ability to come back and turn a less-than-good situation into a great one is something I will always remember," said Crowley, who also coached Shoemaker to the individual elite title at the ITU Duathlon World Championships.

Zucco, who is the head coach of Illinois-based Multisport Madness Triathlon Junior Team, guided his athletes - Kevin McDowell, Lukas Verzbicas and Ben Kanute - to a sweep of the podium in the 2009 Junior Elite National Championship.

Under Zucco's guidance, McDowell went on to place fourth at the 2009 ITU Junior Elite World Championships for the highest finish by an American, and Verzbicas claimed the 2009 ITU Junior Elite Duathlon Championship title.

"It's an extreme honor to be recognized as the Developmental Coach of The Year," said Zucco. "This sport has given me so much and allowed me to meet people who've had a major impact on my life. I'm glad to be able to give back. I proudly accept this honor and consider it as a testament to all the coaches I work with on our team and my coaches in the Training Bible Coaching family."

Zucco, who was a founder of the largest triathlon club in Chicago, is a USAT Level II coach, a Training Bible elite coach and a long-time member of Joe Friel's Ultra Fit Association.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the national governing body for triathlon - one of the fastest growing sports in the world - as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 3,100 races and connects with nearly 130,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic Games.