Sail1Design has named Nick Kaschak, Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation’s (SBYSF) program director and head coach, as this year’s Coach of the Year.
The honor recognizes Kaschak’s leadership and dedication to youth sailing.
“Kaschak’s selection is a testament to his hard work, commitment, and passion for coaching young sailors,” said Eric Stokke, SBYSF president. “Nick’s coaching philosophy goes beyond winning trophies; he believes in instilling important life skills in his sailors such as discipline, teamwork, and determination.
“Nick has become a mentor and role model to his sailors, and his impact extends far beyond the race course.
“Under Nick’s leadership, our young sailors have developed a love for sailing that will last a lifetime,” Stokke said. “His coaching style has helped them learn valuable life lessons that will serve them well in all areas of their lives.”
Kaschak is widely regarded as one of the top youth sailing coaches in the United States. His professional coaching career spans 10 years and various elite organizations. Over the course of his career, his sailors have won more than 20 national, North American, and Midwinters Championships.
Following his own graduation from UCSB, Kaschak began a full-time career as head coach of San Diego Yacht Club and Coach of Point Loma High School. He moved to Santa Barbara and became program director and head coach at the Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation in 2016.
Over Kaschak’s six-year tenure, SBYSF has seen a vast amount of racing and program success. The SBYSF Summer Sailing program has seen record enrollment and racing results have proven SBYSF’s sailors to be amongst the best in the United States.
For more, visit https://sail1design.com/2023-s1d-coach-of-the-year-announced/.
The Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation was formed in 1968 by members of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club to meet the need for a youth sailing program in the community.
The foundation is designed to teach seamanship, sailing and sailboat racing while instilling the values of fitness, self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork, and sportsmanship. For more, visit sbysf.org.