Baechle Announces Retirement from NSCA Certification Commission

Lincoln, Nebraska - August 31, 2006. Thomas R. Baechle, EdD, CSCS,*D; NSCA-CPT,*D, the Executive Director of the NSCA Certification Commission, announced earlier this week that he will retire from his position effective July 15, 2007. Baechle has served as the Executive Director since the Commission's inception in 1992 and has been involved with the National Strength and Conditioning Association since the organization held its first meeting in 1978.

"My time as the NSCA Certification Commission's Executive Director has been a truly amazing experience. It is difficult to leave something that has encompassed so much of my life for so long - but it is time. I can honestly say that as I look to step into another phase of my professional career, I will leave the Commission at its highest point of success. Its future is bright and its potential is even brighter. There are projects and programs in place and in development that will move the Commission's credentials to the 'next level' of national and international respect and recognition, and there is a cadre of capable Commission staff in leadership positions to see those projects and programs to their fruition. There is also a committed, resourceful and multitalented Executive Council (the governing body for the Commission) who can be relied upon to initiate programs that will protect the integrity of the Commission's credentials and further enhance their perceived value among athletes, clients and employers as a means for identifying qualified personnel. Also in place are uniquely talented international liaisons that can be relied upon to further expand the reaches of the Commission's credentials throughout the world," Baechle said.

Throughout the years, Baechle has worked diligently to enhance the image and professionalism of strength and conditioning and personal training professionals all over the world through the NSCA Certification Commission's credentialing program. Baechle has been the driving force behind the success of the Commission for more than 20 years, starting with 168 candidates sitting for the first CSCS exam in 1985 and now testing more than 10,000 candidates annually. Under his direction, 80,023 exams have been administered at 2,687 exam sites throughout the world, and 29,107 CSCS and NSCA-CPT certifications are currently held. Internationally, the exams have been translated into five languages and have been administered in 19 countries, with NSCA certified professionals in 46 countries. Additionally, Baechle pioneered the way by leading the Commission to become the first fitness-related certification organization to earn NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) accreditation for its credentials in 1993, and to be the only fitness-related certification organization to have maintained that accreditation for more than 10 years.

Dr. Jeff Falkel, PT, CSCS,*D, the Chair of the Executive Council, describes Baechle's impact on the NSCA and the Certification Commission as "profound and far-reaching."

"Some of Tom's greatest contributions include the Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning and NSCA's Essentials of Personal Training textbooks and other exam preparation materials he conceptualized that have served as catalysts for creating much of the interest in developing strength and conditioning and personal training curricula in the colleges and universities throughout the United States and the world. Perhaps Tom's greatest contribution to the NSCA and those interested in strength training has been his role in establishing a bona fide strength and conditioning profession by delineating its specific scope of practice via the CSCS exam. Tom is a visionary as well as a very capable administrator; one whose impact on the NSCA, the Commission and the strength and conditioning and personal training professions has been unmatched and whose leadership will be greatly missed," Falkel said.

Baechle is one of the most well-known leaders in fitness certification. As one of the "founding fathers" of the NSCA, he served as the second president (1983-1985), the Director of Education (1985-1990) and the original and only Executive Director of the NSCA Certification Commission. Over the years, he has received many honors and awards from the NSCA, including the Region IV Strength Coach of the Year (twice), the Outstanding Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year, the Outstanding Service Award, the President's Award (three times) and the Lifetime Achievement Award (1998). During the past 25 plus years, Baechle has served as the Region IV Director and Associate Editor of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and Strength and Conditioning . He also served on several NSCA and NSCA Certification Commission committees, including Tests and Measurements, Research, Past President and both Exam Development and Item-Writing Committees.

"Although this decision has not been easy, the time is right for me to move on to the next phase of my professional career. As I step away from my leadership role with the Commission, I want to sincerely thank the many volunteers and staff who willingly gave of their time and expertise, shared a vision of what the CSCS and NSCA-CPT credentials could mean and genuinely cared about what was best for the NSCA. Of particular note are those colleagues who have served on the Commission's Executive Council and office staff, all of whom have provided unyielding support of my efforts. It has been enormously humbling for me to be in a position that allowed me to participate in developing a profession that would touch so many lives, in such positive ways," Baechle said.

As he continues his role as Executive Director through the 2007 NSCA National Conference in Atlanta, Baechle will gradually delegate many responsibilities to Roger Earle, MA, CSCS,*D; NSCA-CPT,*D, Associate Executive Director of Certification and Janet Owens, Associate Executive Director of Operations, in order to ensure a smooth transition. After his retirement from the Commission in July, Baechle will continue to serve as the Chair of the Exercise Science and Athletic Training Department at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he has been Chair for 27 years and a Professor for 29 years. Baechle plans to enjoy his retirement from the Commission by spending more time with his family, fishing, golfing and woodworking.

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