Finalists announced for 2025 UK Coaching Awards
News by UK Coaching
UK Coaching has revealed the finalists for the 2025 UK Coaching Awards, with winners due to be announced on December 4th at the prestigious event, which takes place at The Queen’s Hotel in Leeds.
The UK Coaching Awards will highlight the incredible contributions coaches make to improve the health, happiness and wellbeing of people and their communities.
The UK Coaching Awards are regarded as one of the most prestigious events within the coaching community and celebrates coaches at all levels. From elite to grassroots, they were established to recognise the invaluable role coaches play in building a happier and healthier society – whether masterminding a gold medal moment that can inspire a nation, or turning up week in, week out to support participants at a community sports club.
With previous award winners including the FA’s Peter Sturgess and British Athletics’ Aston Moore (Lifetime Achievement Award), Sarina Wiegman (Great Coaching Moment of the Year), and the coaches behind Lucy Bronze and Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s path to success (Coaching Chain Award), the awards reflect the unforgettable coaching highlights of each year and the tireless work that goes on behind the scenes.
From all the nominations, a judging panel has selected the following finalists.
Change a Life Award, sponsored by Sport England
- Kev Burton (Boxing)
- Ian Northcott (Personal Training)
- Peter Tomlin (Equestrian)
Coach Education & Development Practitioner of the Year, sponsored by British Gymnastics
- Natasha Britton (Dance)
- Ellie Owen (Multi-sport)
- Rus Smith (Multi-sport)
Community Coach of the Year (Adults), sponsored by Badu
- Mark Bigger (Tae Kwon Do)
- Georgina Evans-Goodrich (Netball)
- Zaynab Jogi (Self-defence)
Community Coach of the Year (Children and Young People), sponsored by Play Their Way
- Daniel Hankinson (Judo)
- Kerry Norfolk (Boxing)
- Arnie Ladwa (Multi-sport)
High Performance Coach of the Year, sponsored by UK Sport
- John Hewitt (Cycling)
- Claire Morrison (Boccia)
- Richard Brickell (Shooting)
Inclusive Coaching, sponsored by Inclusive Employers
- Darren Rea (Rugby)
- Carolle & Iman Tennis (Tennis)
- India Perris Redding (Rugby)
Online Coach of the Year
- Johanna Hadley (Dance)
- Sophie Evelyn (Powerlifting)
- Maddi Burchell (Dressage)
Talent Development Coach of the Year
- Peter McGuire (Boccia)
- Lisa Rivers (Judo)
- Shoney Morrish (Gymnastics)
Young Coach of the Year
- Alex Wilson (Athletics)
- Kerry Rutherford (Swimming)
- Dylan Lockyer (Athletics)
UK Coaching CEO Mark Gannon reflected on the breadth of coaching talent announced as this year’s finalists. He said:
“We are excited to announce the finalists of the 2025 UK Coaching Awards. Each year, we recognise some truly remarkable coaches from across the UK at every level, and it is always a challenge to select our finalists from an incredible group of nominations.
Coaches across the nation can all be proud of the valuable contribution they make to the health and wellbeing of the nation. Following a phenomenal summer of women’s sport this year, there has never been a better time to celebrate coaches who make it all happen.”
The awards will be held on 4 December at The Queen’s Hotel in Leeds.
Find out more about this year’s finalists
Explore the remarkable journeys of our 2025 finalists by viewing their individual citations.
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