Tom Reynolds

Walk into a room full of ski coaches and say "Coach." Without exception, everyone in the room knows you could only mean Tom Reynolds, mentor to countless young men and women who would go on to coach and teach the next generation. The journey to becoming the coach of coaches began in high school skiing at Baker Mountain in Bingham, Maine, where he first met Amos Winter. He renewed his acquaintance with Amos in 1955 and for the next 20 years, on nothing more than a handshake, worked part time for Amos and the newly-created Sugarloaf Ski School. Racing at Sugarloaf was in its formative stages and he quickly became involved with the Sugarloaf Ski Club.

Tom eventually moved to Farmington, Maine, to teach and coach skiing at Farmington High School, where many of his athletes were named to Junior National Teams. In 1965 he left Farmington for the University of Maine to become head coach for skiing, soccer and tennis. He soon returned to Farmington to help build a competitive alpine ski program at the University of Maine at Farmington, where he remained for over 30 years. The men's alpine team would earn a reputation as one of the best in New England, winning four collegiate alpine championships and three Canadian-American collegiate championships. Twice he was voted NESCA Alpine Coach of the Year, named associate coach for the U.S. Ski Team and traveled with the men's downhill team in Europe.

For Tom, ski coaching did not end with the spring thaw; for over 15 years he directed summer training camps in Cooke City, Montana, at Timberline Lodge in Oregon and Hintertux, Austria.

Tom's lifelong dedication to coaches' education began during this time and in 1981 he and Doc DesRoches created the UMF Ski Industries Program, which brought together ski business, coaching and teaching in a collegiate setting. He served as the director for 18 years and guided hundreds of college students into successful careers.

Tom has made considerable contributions to United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and coaches' education throughout Maine. He is a certified Level III PSIA instructor, USSA Level 4 International Coach recognized Level 2 with the Canadian Coaches Association and professor emeritus at the University of Maine at Farmington. He has served as a USSA Level I clinician; National Coaches School examiner, and was the first president of the then United States Ski Coaches Association. He contributed to PSIA-E as chairperson of the Education Committee and as a clinician for PSIA race camps and examiner training. He was instrumental in preparing UMF Ski Industries students for their PSIA certification exams and as candidates for the USSA National Coaches School. He published his first coaching book in 1974, Guide to Alpine Coaching. His dedication to coaches' education continues with his newest book, Effective Ski Coaching.

While Tom's career and contributions to the ski industry are vast, his true contribution is his vision and continued willingness to share that vision.