INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced the finalists for its National, Developmental and Volunteer Coach of the Year honors on Tuesday, and USRowing's Matt Imes was one of five finalists for the Developmental Coach of the Year. The awards will be presented Sunday, May 2, during a dinner at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs.
The finalists were chosen after the 41 Olympic and Pan American sport organizations selected their 2003 National, Developmental and/or Volunteer Coaches of the Year as part of the USOC Coach of the Year recognition program.
Imes, who joined the USRowing staff in June 2002, coached the men's four with coxswain to a gold medal at the 2003 FISA World Rowing Championships in Milan, Italy. Previously as a volunteer coach, Imes led the men's four with coxswain to a silver medal at the 2000 World Championships and the men's eight to a silver medal at the 2001 Nation's Cup (Under 23 World Championships).
In addition to Imes, the Developmental Coach of the Year finalists are Jim Foster (USA Basketball), Bob Fraley (USA Track & Field), Don Freeman (USA Baseball), and Todd Wilson (U.S. Ski and Snowboard).
Finalists for the USOC National Coach of the Year award are Bob Bowman (USA Swimming), Mike Candrea (USA Softball), Edward Korfanty (U.S. Fencing), Terry Steiner (USA Wrestling) and Lloyd Woodhouse (USA Shooting).
Finalists for the USOC Volunteer Coach of the Year title are Roland Estrada (USA Boxing), Carol Hardemon (USA Track & Field), Mary Johnsen (U.S. Tennis), Katherine Jones-Thiry (USA National Karate-Do) and Dennis Marquard (U.S. Speedskating).