PARK CITY, UT (Sept. 21, 2015) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has named longtime snowboarding coach Jon Casson to its sport education department as the new coach development manager. Casson will work alongside Director of Sport Education Brian Krill to educate, certify and recognize USSA’s clubs and coaches.
Throughout his 17-year career as a professional snowboarding coach and program leader, Casson has been involved with almost all aspects of the sport, including coaches’ education, organizational leadership and strategic planning. He spent 15 years with the snowboard program at Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC), which has been honored with the USSA’s Snowboard Program of the Year award four times. Casson has also served as the chairman of USSA’s Snowboard Sport Committee since 2010 and served on the board of the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) for seven years.
“Jon has great perspective and background as a coach at every level, a program director, a USSA sport committee chair, and a workhorse of curriculum development in multiple sports,” said Krill. “I have no doubt that his energy and enthusiasm, along with his expertise, will be a huge benefit to coaches nationwide.”
As coach development manager, Casson will oversee all USSA coach development programs, including certification, SkillsQuest and academies. He will provide a comprehensive, progressive and integrated education and certification program to USSA coaches across all USSA sports, with the aim of driving greater uptake by coaches resulting in expanded certification across the coaching membership.
“Our coaches in the field are our most important resource to develop great skiers and snowboarders,” stated Casson. “My role is to provide outstanding resources to the coaches driving our sports on a daily basis. They are the lifeblood of what we do and I’m really looking forward to supporting them in their efforts to give all of our members the best experience possible.”
Casson will assume his role as coach development manager immediately and will be based in USSA’s office in Park City, UT. He will be stepping down from his current role as chairman of the USSA Snowboard Sport Committee.
