Pictured from left are NYSEF Executive Director John Norton, Paul Van Slyke, Nina Lussi, Colin Delaney, Beatty Schlueter and Martina Lussi at the at U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s annual awards dinner in Park City, Utah on May 15. (Provided photo — Ashley Jankowski/U.S. Ski and Snowboard)

WILMINGTON — New York Ski Educational Foundation’s head ski jumping and Nordic combined coach Colin Delaney was honored with the U.S. and Snowboard Gold Award for Development Coach of the Year Award during the organization’s annual awards ceremony on May 15 in Park City, Utah.

U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s Gold Awards represent the highest honors within the organization.

Delaney, a native of Lake Placid who grew up in the NYSEF program as a Nordic combined athlete, has served as head coach of the NYSEF program since 2016.

During the 2023-24 winter season, Delaney coached a team of athletes who swept multiple podiums at Junior National Championships in Alaska, while also coaching NYSEF Nordic combined athlete Kai McKinnon, who, along with her teammate Alexa Brabec from the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, became the first Americans to win a silver medal in the team competition at Junior World Championships in Slovenia. McKinnon also competed in Nordic combined at the Youth Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea.

“I’m deeply honored by this award from U.S. Ski and Snowboard,” Delaney said. “Its been an absolute pleasure to be mentored by coaches I admire like Larry Stone and Jay Rand, while also sharing what I’ve learned with NYSEF’s next generation. I give them a lot of credit in my success, getting a group of talented athletes to fall in love with the sport who could push each other, helping each other to stronger performances than they would be capable of alone.”

Delaney was also awarded the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Coach Award for Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Development Coach of the Year.

“Colin’s dedication and commitment to athletic success at every level is evident in the results his athletes achieved this past season,” NYSEF Executive Director John Norton said. “His ability to connect with athletes and help them pursue their individual goals is part of what makes him such an amazing coach.”