Jim Coombe, USA Archery's 2010 Volunteer Coach of the Year, has been selected as a finalist for the United States Olympic Committee's 2010 Volunteer Coach of the Year award. Nominated by USA Archery, Coombe was selected from a pool of Volunteer Coaches of the Year from other Olympic sports.
The USOC has selected three finalists from each of the Coach of the Year categories - Volunteer, Developmental, National, Paralympic, and Doc Counsilman Science/Technology - to take part in a National Coaching Conference in June, at which the 2010 Coaches of the Year will be named.
"The honor is really for our club and those who have made it what it is," explains Coombe, commenting on his selection as a finalist. "From my coach, Charlie Pierson, who recently passed away, to all of the other people who taught me how to coach, including George Helwig, Darrell Pace, Al Kramer and all of our adult and youth members: this honor is for them."
Coombe manages the Cincinnati Junior Olympians JOAD club on a year-round basis. Under his tutelage, numerous members of the club have medaled in state, regional and national competitions, and cadet archer Daniel McLaughlin recently set a new World Archery Americas event record.
Understanding the importance of having a place to practice, Coombe built an indoor range that is open year-round and free of charge to local archers. A regional judge, Coombe is also the Ohio state JOAD Coordinator and a veteran tournament director.
"I have never seen anyone dedicate that much time and effort to training kids in any sport," said CJO's Angela Hsiao in her original letter of nomination for Coombe. "Jim works tirelessly with each one of the kids in the club on their form and equipment tuning. For all he does for the club, Jim is never compensated. Friendly and kind to people around him, Jim has a heart of gold and a spirit of volunteerism that is unmatched. He is truly a role model for everyone in the club."
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