Local Sailor named US Sailing’s Developmental Coach of the Year
US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) recognized a local sailor today - Ben Glass - as Developmental Coach of the Year. He is one of three outstanding sailing coach recipients for the 2007 Coaches of the Year Awards. The awards are a part of the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) Coach Recognition Program, which highlights the accomplishments and contributions of coaches who train athletes at all levels of sport. Awards are given in three categories: National Coach of the Year, Volunteer Coach of the Year, and Developmental Coach of the Year.
In 2007, Ben coached on all levels from junior sailing programs to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Sailing. As the head coach of the 33-member Seattle Yacht Club Racing Team, he organized travel, logistics and transport for a summer of sailing across the Northwest. His sailors won four of the five classes in the series. He also helped to organize the very first Northwest Junior Olympic Festival, and coached in at least eight junior national championships. Glass traveled to the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Kingston, ON, Canada as the U.S. team coach and his sailors Emily Dellenbaugh and Briana Provancha won the 29er fleet. In the fall of 2007, Glass was invited to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials to coach 49er pair Dalton Bergen and Zack Maxam, who came in second place. In addition to his regatta coaching feats in 2007, Glass taught Level 1 Instructor Certification course, served as Principal Race Officer for local regattas, and coached at least four clinics.
Glass joins Susan Kaseler (Previous Volunteer Coach of the Year - Bainbridge Island, Wash.) as local winners of US SAILING’s Coaching Award. Full coverage of the 2007 Coaching Awards can be found on the US Sailing Website.
