Mike Adams is a role model. After a day of being coached by Mike Adams at summer basketball camp a six-year old girl told her mother “I am going be a coach like Mike one day.” Embracing the Edward Little High School team’s unusual nickname the “Red Eddies,” he teaches young athletes that “Eddies” work hard, play the right way, have positive attitudes, and are resilient. From the many recommendations of Coach Adams’ former players, colleagues, opponents, and members of the press, it was clear that Mike Adams values every player and builds community. Whether he is coaching basketball at Edward Little High School, running the Red Eddies summer camp, helping his players experience the world through his annual summer college clinic, or any one of a number of examples of going the extra mile, Mike Adams makes everyone around him better. Modeling respect, character, empathy, compassion, kindness, integrity, and a work ethic on the court, classroom, and community, Coach Adams exemplifies the principles PCA teaches. One longtime Coach Adams observer shared that Michael Jordan’s description of his own college coach, Dean Smith, applies equally to Mike Adams, “Players with different backgrounds, different outlooks, different potential: He seemed to be able to reach all of them the same way."

Scott Boyd is the kind of positive coach who believes in his players. Scott Boyd’s players show the power of positive in their faces, in how they stand tall, in how they smile, and in how they strive to perform for Coach Boyd, as the testimonials from his players’ families and his co-coaches make clear. With creativity and thoughtful planning, Coach Boyd helps his players master the many skills needed in baseball, softball, basketball, and in life. Navigating the pandemic, Coach Boyd earned respect for his relentless pursuit of safe opportunities to play. Communication. Commitment. Compassion. Respect. Accountability. Coach Boyd teaches his players the importance these qualities and more. The title Double-Goal Coach Award winner fits Scott Boyd.

Adrian Hill focuses on delivering the highest quality, positive experience for the soccer players he coaches, and their families. The result is lots of fun, and lots of wins too. Adrian Hill knows his “why” for coaching Dover-Sherborn town soccer. With caring, compassion, creativity, humor, patience, and an abundance of thoughtful communication with players and parents, Coach Hill leads his team to wins on and off the pitch. Motivating players with ‘stardust’ and drills borrowed from Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and inspiring them with a fundraising crossbar challenge, Coach Hill teaches more than soccer. His thoughtful approach to soccer and bring people together makes Coach Hill the kind of coach every parent, and every player, wants.

Brian Kriftcher has dedicated himself to making the world a better place through basketball, and more. Twenty-one players, former players, parents, colleagues, and admirers who have witnessed the positive impact Brian Kriftcher makes in Stamford, Fairfield, and around the world wrote in support of “Coach K.” As the co-founder and driving force behind the Stamford Peace Youth Foundation whose PEACE Basketball and Beyond Limits Academic programs empower young people, Brian Kriftcher has been the most impactful person in the lives of countless young people. Coach K coaches high school basketball at Notre Dame Fairfield High School and is known for coaching ‘positive perseverance.’ Coach K models the kind of commitment, compassion, and caring he wants to see. One of his favorite mantras ‘speed bump, not a stop sign’ helps everyone around him strive to overcome adversity and focus on being the best players and the best people they can be. Brian Kriftcher is truly a Double-Goal Coach.

David Shoemaker coaches rugby, but really he coaches “the whole player.” David creates a “caring community,” where every player feels valued. Embracing differences, David has a way of helping players turn perceived weaknesses into strengths. With patience and a willingness to literally meet his players at their level, David takes a knee and listens to his players. When the pandemic paused rugby practices and games, David took the opportunity to teach his players the history of the game through reading assignments and weekly trivia—popular with parents too. With players and parents describing David as empathetic, patient, respectful, knowledgeable, and positive, PCA is proud to recognize David as a Double-Goal Coach.