New Hampshire Nordic Coaches of the Year

The NHNCA Coach of the Year Award is presented to a coach who participates in the NH Coaches Series and receives the most votes from all other participating coaches, based on the criteria of contributing to the long-term development of skiers in New Hampshire. Awards are presented for both High School and Middle School coaching categories.

• 2023 NH High School Coach of the Year- Erin Waters, Concord High School & Peter Hills, Keene High School

• 2023 NH Middle School Coach of the Year- Steve Olafsen, Interlakes Middle School & Middle School Championships

Past New Hampshire Coach of the Year Recipients

2022 High School Award - Nina Gavriluk, Gunstock Nordic Association, Belmont & Gilford High Schools

2022 Middle School Award - Peter Hendel, Holderness Central School/Holderness Nordic Club

2021 Chris Naimie, Bow High School

2020 Kevin Lee, Kearsarge Regional High School

2019 Steve Vosburgh, Kennett High School

2018 Kevin Lee, Kearsarge Regional High School

2017 Chris Naimie, Bow High School

2016 Steve Olafsen, Inter-Lakes Middle/High School

2015 Ski NH Al Merrill Award is awarded to Rob Nadeau

Rob Nadeau, current Hopkinton High School ski coach, was the recipient of Ski NH’s 2015 Al Merrill Award at their Annual Meeting June 8th at the Mountain View Grand in Whitefield, NH. This award was established in memory of Al Merrill to recognize an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to cross country skiing in the state of New Hampshire.

Al Merrill, the "Silver Fox", was Dartmouth College's cross country ski coach and Director of Outdoor Affairs for close to thirty years.  He was a key organizer for many national and Olympic racing events in the 1970's and '80's.  A wizard of ski and wax, on duty at eight Winter Olympics, designer of ski trails across the country, coach and "Head Tigah" for countless athletes -- Al was the dean of cross-country skiing at Dartmouth College, and was instrumental in shaping the future of the cross country ski industry in New Hampshire.

Rob has been instrumental in developing and supporting cross-country programs for children of all ages throughout NH. Rob’s contributions include years of coaching at Hopkinton High School, leading New Hampshire teams at Eastern High School and Under 16 Championships, serving as President of the NH Nordic Coaches Association and various committees of the New England Nordic Ski Association. He also founded and developed the Blackwater Nordic Club, overseeing the local BKL Club and coaching his two daughters to noteworthy achievements, one being a member of the UNH Ski Team and the other a member of the New England Junior National Team.

Past recipients of the Merrill Award include Chuck Broomhall, Cory Schwartz, Cami Thompson-Cardinelli, Len Johnson, Dave Matthews, Jim Wellinghurst, John & Nancy Schlosser, Al & Irene Jenks and Thom Perkins. Congratulations Rob!