First-Ever College Triathlon Coaches Association Formed

USA Triathlon announced the first-ever College Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA), whose purpose is to promote triathlon as a varsity collegiate sport and provide guidance to coaches and NCAA programs through educational, professional, technical and competitive resources.

The association will also assist in the development of triathlon as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women. Membership in the CTCA is open to any active triathlon coach at the NCAA varsity level.

The inaugural CTCA Board of Directors was appointed on April 19, and includes the following members:

President: Jon Metz, Daemen College (N.Y.)
Vice President: Kyle Joplin, Centenary College of Louisiana
Secretary: Janine Pleasant, East Tennessee State University
Treasurer: Jamie Church, Southern Wesleyan University (S.C.)
Division I Representative: Cliff English, Arizona State University
Division II Representative: Allie Nicosia, University of West Alabama
Division III Representative: Jenny Garrison, North Central College (Ill.)
USA Triathlon Representative: Jessica Welk, Colorado Springs, Colo.

“The inaugural College Triathlon Coaches Association Board of Directors represents a strong mix of competencies, including marketing, technical, educational and legal skills,” said Tim Yount, USA Triathlon Chief Operating Officer. “The new association will serve as the go-to resource for our NCAA coaches as we work to grow draft-legal collegiate racing across the nation.”

“We now have a strong leadership foundation in place, and I couldn’t be more pleased with these appointments,” said Jon Metz, CTCA President. “I am looking forward to working with this insightful and passionate group committed to NCAA women's triathlon.”

The NCAA overwhelmingly approved triathlon as an Emerging Sport for Women for NCAA Divisions I, II and III member institutions in January 2014. Women’s triathlon is currently offered as an NCAA varsity sport at 14 institutions.

In December of 2015, USA Triathlon launched a $2.6 million Women’s Triathlon Emerging Sport Grant. Funding from the grant is distributed to select NCAA member institutions to develop, implement, grow and sustain women’s varsity triathlon programs at the NCAA level.

The 2017 Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championship will be held on Nov. 5 in Tempe, Arizona, home of defending national champions Arizona State University.

For more information about triathlon as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, contact Jessica Welk at Jessica.welk@usatriathlon.org or visit usatriathlon.org/ncaa.

About USA Triathlon: USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with nearly 500,000 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, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).