The PCA Blog - Tampa Bay

Melanie Johnson Wins Positive Coaching Alliance-Tampa Bay’s Double-Goal Coach® Award

04.22.2019

Tampa, FLMelanie Johnson, Varsity Girls Basketball and Flag Football Coach at Lakewood Ranch High School, has won Positive Coaching Alliance-Tampa Bay’s Double-Goal Coach® Award for her positive impact on youth in sports.

Johnson is one of five local recipients of Tampa’s Double-Goal Coach® Award, named for coaches who strive to win while also pursuing the important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. The award includes a $250 personal prize, $250 donated in Johnson’s name to an athletic organization, a certificate, and mention within the websites and newsletters of PCA-Tampa Bay, the local Chapter of Positive Coaching Alliance.


“Coach Johnson has a great understanding of the game fundamentals,” said Dennis Pruszinske, parent to one of Johnson’s athletes. “She works to instill unity and teamwork amongst all members of the team."

Johnson grew up playing multiple sports and was recruited and played basketball at The University of South Carolina. She proceeded to play basketball professionally in Turkey before settling in Manatee County. She currently teaches at Lakewood Ranch High School and coaches girls basketball and flag football. “I believe all sports should be used to encourage and empower student athletes to build confidence and prepare them for a lifetime of success,” says Johnson.


In addition to coaching at Lakewood Ranch High School, Johnson founded and coaches Manasota Select, a girls travel league basketball program in Manatee and Sarasota counties. “I strive to encourage my athletes to set goals and then show them how to work towards those goals in a team environment.” Johnson chose Manasota Select as the recipient of her $250 donation prize from PCA-Tampa Bay. “Coach Johnson is an excellent example of the balance between life and sports,” said Pruszinske. “As a parent of an athlete on her team, I have witnessed her emphasis on developing the student first and the athletics being the secondary goal.”

“It is evident that Coach Johnson is passionate about coaching and teaching,” said Mason Cathey, Executive Director of PCA-Tampa Bay, the local Chapter of Positive Coaching Alliance. “We appreciate her initiative, philosophy, and care, and are proud to recognize her as a Double-Goal Coach®."

About Positive Coaching Alliance

Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) develops BETTER ATHLETES, BETTER PEOPLE through resources for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, administrators and student-athletes. In addition to more than 1,800 free multimedia tips and tools at www.PCADevZone.org, PCA has partnered with roughly 3,500 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide to deliver more than 20,000 live group workshops, along with online courses and books by PCA Founder Jim Thompson that help those involved in youth and high school sports create a positive, character-building youth sports culture.

PCA resources, which have reached more than 9 million youth, strive to transform high school and youth sports into a Development Zone® culture, where the goal is to develop Better Athletes, Better People and the following become the prevailing models in youth and high school sports:

·       The Double-Goal Coach®, who strives to win while also pursuing the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports.

·       The Second-Goal Parent®, who concentrates on life lessons, while letting coaches and athletes focus on competing.

·       The Triple-Impact Competitor®, who strives to impact sport on three levels by improving oneself, teammates and the game as a whole.

PCA gains support from a National Advisory Board, including National Spokesperson and 11-time NBA Champion Coach Phil Jackson, and many other top coaches, athletes, organization leaders and academics who share PCA’s mission. PCA is proud to partner with the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and over 35 professional teams across the United States.

List of 2019 National Double-Goal Coach® Award Winners

Contact:
Mason Cathey
PCA-Tampa Executive Director
mason_cathey@positivecoach.org
352-514-2797

Jennie Wulbrun
Program & Events Administrator
Positive Coaching Alliance
jennie_wulbrun@positivecoach.org
650-210-0815