Murfreesboro, TN - Local resident and Strength and Conditioning Coach Justin Loudon with Nashville's Ezell Harding Christian School was named National Strength and Conditioning Association Coach of the Year. This prestigious accolade is part of the NSCA’s annual Peer Awards, which honor professionals worldwide for outstanding achievements in their field.

The Murfreesboro resident recently completed his 10th year in education, beginning as a health and physical education teacher and transitioning to the role of a strength and conditioning coach. He oversees the training of all sports teams at Ezell Harding and has created a curriculum tailored for students from 7th to 12th grade which fosters physical literacy through a long-term athletic development approach to guiding them to reach their full potential.

Loudon said, “It was an honor just to be recognized with the excellent coaches who were nominated and to win is amazing. The coaches who have previously won this award are mentors to me and people I admire. This is a humbling moment, and it affirms to me that I am doing things the right way.”

The National Strength and Conditioning Association was founded in 1978 and is dedicated to advancing strength and conditioning science and education. The Association consists of more than 60,000 Members and Certified Professionals worldwide who further best practices as researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance and sport scientists, personal trainers, tactical professionals, and other exercise science-related roles.

Originally from Harrisburg, PA, Loudon earned his B.S. in Health and Physical Education from Lock Haven University. Loudon is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach.

In 2023, Loudon led Ezell Harding to winning the National High School Strength Coaches Association Program of Excellence Award and the National Strength and Conditioning Association Strength of America Award. Before joining the staff at Ezell Harding, he was the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Vista Ridge High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he was the 2021 Colorado Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year and led the Vista Ridge program to winning the 2022 National High School Strength Coaches Association Program of Excellence Award and the 2022 National Strength and Conditioning Association Strength of America Award. 

Loudon and his wife, Kimberly, have one son and live in Murfreesboro where they lead an active lifestyle, enjoying outdoor activities as much as possible.