AKRON, Ohio - Joel Harrison from University of West Florida has been announced as one of the nominees for The Leadership Playbook 2022-2023 Coach of the Year. The award seeks to honor coaches who maximize success, value growth, and make a positive impact on those they're entrusted to lead. 

TheLeadershipPlaybook.com helps athletic departments and sports teams build stronger cultures by developing better teammates and more positive leaders. As part of the online curriculum, the program has hundreds of two-minute video lessons to increase a person's leadership abilities and develop life skills.

The program was developed by Jamy Bechler, a former college basketball coach and high school athletic director. Bechler is now a professional speaker, team performance consultant, and host of the "Success is a Choice" podcast.He is also the author of five books, including The Bus Trip and The Captain. 

"We're thrilled to recognize Coach Harrison as an example of what a coach should be," said Bechler. "The late great Billy Graham used to say that a coach can impact more young people in one year than most people do in a lifetime, and I believe that to be true. No coach is perfect, and the job can be very demanding, but the best coaches try to make situations and other people better."

Bechler continued, "Most coaches know the X's and O's, the tactics, and strategies but the best coaches know their athletes. The best coaches go beyond the X's and O's and know how to inspire their athletes to do their best and maximize their potential."

Deserving coaches from across the United States were nominated by their peers, administrators, teachers, student-athletes, and in some cases, even competitors from other schools.

Award winners will be announced via Twitter @CoachBechler on June 25, 2023.