The recipient of the inaugural 2020 Gatorade CSCCa Young Achievement Award is Aaron Jung, Assistant Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Morningside College. Coach Jung was nominated by Coach Michael Silbernagle, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Mary.
Nomination Letter for Aaron from Coach Silbernagel
I would like to nominate Aaron Jung for the 2020 Gatorade/CSCCa Young Achievement Award. To be honest Aaron has been like a little brother to me. We first got to know each other when he joined my staff as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach in the fall of 2013. At this time he had very little experience, no certifications, and zero coaching presence. During his tenure as a graduate assistant he grew as most do but in our situation he evolved his role into an acting full time assistant. Continued his education by finishing his masters degree and picked up certifications along the way (SCCC, CSCS, USAW, FMS). Aaron accepted a job before his graduate assistantship was completed and started working for Morningside College (NAIA) in Sioux City, Iowa as the only strength and conditioning coach for the entire athletic department. While there he has grown as a coach and a person surpassing any goals that I could have had for him when he left. Since May of 2015 Morningside Athletics have gone to new heights. The football team which has a history of success has won five conference titles and just finished winning their second national title in a row, the men’s basketball team recently clinched their third conference title over that same five year span, the softball team also has taken home the conference championship three times, while wrestling and women’s basketball also claimed a championship as well. The conference and national titles and participation have been nice but he has also fundraised to upgrade equipment in the current weight room, designed and implemented and internship program, has increased athlete nutritional understanding, and even has been able to create a part time position which has allowed other young coaches to start their careers and grow in the field. This fall showed Aaron’s real commitment to his craft. He suffered a severe injury which required surgery on both of his knees at the same time. While no where near 100% he coached from a wheel chair, then eventually to a walker as his athletes where a priority to him. Aaron has accomplished a lot in a short amount of time and there is not doubt in my mind that more is yet to come as he is already starting to give back by presenting at local and regional events this spring.
