(Gladstone, NJ) - Stand-out coaches George Morris and Kim Severson will share recognition as United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 2005 Coaches of the Year, as part of the Coaching Recognition Program, developed by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). Both will go on to become candidates for the USOC 2005 Coach of the Year.

Selected for the tremendous strides he made in his first year of leading U.S. Show Jumping athletes, George Morris has received the 2005 USEF National Coach of the Year honor. Morris led the U.S. Show Jumping Team to a 2005 victory in the Samsung Super League, which consists of eight of the world's most prestigious show jumping competitions in the world during a year-long series.

Eventing coach Kim Severson has been named the 2005 USEF Developmental Coach of the Year. Severson was selected for her numerous contributions to the sport of eventing, including her crucial role as a developing rider coach. In this role she has worked with staff to expand a new curriculum to increase the scope of the developing rider program. She also continues to coach at all levels of the sport, from the grass roots to High Performance.

The goal of the USOC Coaching Recognition Program is to acknowledge all coaches for their contributions and to elevate the status of the coaching profession.

For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, via e-mail at Sarah.Lane@usef.org .USEF press releases can be found on our website, www.usef.org .