The United States Olympic Committee has chosen Lesley University’s head women’s and men’s tennis coach, Doug Eng, as a 2012 Coach of the Year Award winner and recipient of the Doc Counsilman Award. The award recognizes a coach who utilizes scientific techniques and equipment as an integral part of their coaching methods or has created innovative ways to use sport science. Eng, along with four other coaches from around the country, were honored at the USOC Coach of the Year Award Reception at the 2013 National Coaching Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Utilizing his doctorate in sport psychology and sport pedagogy, Eng adapted a mental training manual for young athletes, which compliments the mental training course he created for the Professional Tennis Registry. His curriculum has played a critical role in developing athletes at the grassroots level by making presenting basic performance intervention techniques and sport science more appealing to younger athletes. His work has greatly impacted the U.S. Tennis Association and the PTR.

A regular contributor to the U.S. Professional Tennis Association magazine, Eng engages member coaches and welcomes feedback from competitors to learn more about functional training, injury prevention and other areas of sport science that will benefit athletes.  Eng feels that having better prepared coaches will result in better athlete performance and enjoyment. Using scientific information helps athletes improve, train smarter and reduce injuries.

Eng provides a comprehensive approach to sport science and performance at all levels of competition. However, the creative part of Eng’s approach is the empowering nature of his relationship with his athletes and coaches, which allows them to discover ways to improve through research and collaboration.

Eng, who also serves as a Sports Psychology professor here at Lesley, is one of just ten professionals worldwide designated a Master Professional by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA).