May 3, 2007

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) presented its 2006 Coach of the Year honorees at a luncheon held today in collaboration with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports at the Hilton Washington Embassy Row in Washington, D.C.

The 2006 National Coach of the Year is Bud Keene (U.S. Snowboarding/Stowe, Vt.). Keene has been the head coach of the U.S. Snowboarding halfpipe program since 2003 and has continued to build on the success and domination that U.S. riders established during the 2002 Olympic Games. Under his direction, U.S. halfpipe riders captured four of the six possible medals at the 2006 Olympic Games including two gold and silver medals. Two other U.S. riders both finished in fourth place.

Other finalists for the USOC National Coach of the Year were Steve Fraser (USA Wrestling/Colorado Springs, Colo.), Clyde Hart (USA Track & Field/Waco, Texas), Ryan Shimabukuro (U.S. Speedskating/Layton, Utah) and Andy Sparks (USA Cycling/Temecula, Calif.).

Hart, the recipient of the 2006 Nike Coach of the Year presented by USA Track & Field, coached Sanya Richards and Jeremy Wariner to undefeated seasons in 2006 in the women's and men's 400 meters, respectively, as his athletes dominated the world. Both athletes won a share of the IAAF Golden League Jackpot for winning all six prestigious Golden League meets and were named the Jesse Owens Award winners by USATF as the top track athletes of the year. Hart was named the 2006 Nike Coach of the Year by USATF, having previously won the award in 2004.

In 43 years as coach at Baylor University, Hart has coached 29 national champions (14 individual and 15 relay) and 475 All-America performances and 118 women's All-Americans. His men's 4x400-meter relay teams have earned outdoor All-America status for 26 consecutive years and captured 14 NCAA titles. Hart's teams have turned in 10 World-record performances (nine individual and one relay) and nine NCAA record efforts.

For Hart, the 2006 Nike Coach of the Year Award marks his eighth national coach of the year award in the last 18 years. Hart has been named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1996, and was named USATF Coach of the Year in 1996, 2004, and 2006. Additionally, Hart received the USOC Coach of the Year award in 1996, 2004, and 2006.

Hart has been awarded the USOC Coach of the Year award three times in its ten-year history. No other coach has received the honor more than once.