By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
LEXINGTON – Amber Burson views strength training as more than simply building muscle.
It’s a way to protect athletes, boost self-confidence and give students tools they continue to carry long after graduation.
That philosophy, refined over nearly two decades at Lexington High School, recently earned her recognition from the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) as the 2026 National Coach of the Year.
“This recognition represents an unwavering commitment to excellence, leadership and the development of student-athletes both in and out of the weight room,” the association stated when announcing the honor. “The impact made at Lexington High School sets the standard for what high school strength and conditioning is all about.”
A University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate, Burson is the strength and conditioning coordinator at Lexington High School, where she also teaches physical education, serves as an assistant athletic trainer and coaches multiple sports, including leading the powerlifting program. She is the first woman to receive the national NHSSCA honor, which recognizes an individual’s coaching achievements, passion for the profession and long-term impact in the field.
“It’s cool. I don’t even really know how to put it into words,” Burson said. “I feel very honored and privileged, and I want to make sure I represent the award well.”
Developing a strength program
Burson arrived in Lexington in 2008 as the school’s first athletic trainer, hired after student-athletes experienced a high number of significant injuries the previous year.
“When I interviewed for the job, they talked a lot about the number of injuries they had,” she explained. “My suggestion to them at the time was you need to get a full-time strength and conditioning person so we can prevent these injuries instead of having to treat them.”
That recommendation ultimately became part of her role, even though strength and conditioning was not an area she had studied extensively before coming to Lexington.
“If I’m honest, I didn’t know anything when it came to strength and conditioning at the time,” Burson said. “I had to really learn the role.”
In the early years, she ran the summer weight room, wrote programs for physical education teachers to implement and worked to bring more structure to the school’s approach. Over time, the program expanded, evolving into a comprehensive curriculum.
Today, Burson teaches strength and conditioning every class period, coordinating with two other physical education teachers to deliver beginning and advanced courses that incorporate health education and speed and agility training. She also oversees the summer strength program and is working to introduce a similar structure at the middle school level.
“We’re working on getting a strength and conditioning program implemented at the middle school this upcoming school year,” she said. “That’s exciting.”
Building confidence through powerlifting
Another significant contribution from Burson has been the growth of Lexington’s powerlifting program, which she helped start in 2009 to give students another opportunity to compete.
What began with two athletes has evolved into a program with more than 100 participants each year, boys and girls combined. The team has won numerous state championships and claimed both boys and coed titles at the 2024 USA Powerlifting High School Nationals in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
For Burson, the joy of coaching these student-athletes goes far beyond victories and trophies.
“The most fun thing for me is that powerlifting is a sport that really grows kids’ confidence, and it does it quickly,” she said. “You have kids who come in and they’re low in confidence and don’t see their potential. It’s so fun to watch them go from being shy and hesitant to standing out there in front of a gym full of people, and it’s just them and the weight. When they conquer that moment, what it does for their self-esteem and confidence really allows them to be willing to try other things in high school. That’s the thing that keeps me coming back.”
Establishing a foundation at UNK
Burson’s path to education and high school athletics began in the Nebraska Panhandle, where sports were central to her life. After suffering a knee injury in eighth grade, the Kimball native became interested in the medical side of sports and initially explored physical therapy before discovering athletic training.
She played basketball for two years at Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, then transferred to UNK, where she completed the athletic training program and earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 2004.
“UNK was the best athletic training program in the state when I was going through school,” Burson said. “I still think it’s the best athletic training program in the state.”
She credits the program’s rigor and extensive hands-on learning opportunities with shaping her attention to detail and deep understanding of the human body. As a student, Burson spent countless hours working alongside staff in UNK’s athletic training room while also gaining experience at off-campus clinical sites, including Kearney High School and New West Orthopaedic and Sports Rehabilitation.
“The instructors were super hands-on. They were very strict in what they expected,” she said. “I had to think at a level I had never thought at before.”
That environment, Burson said, set UNK apart. She pointed to longtime UNK athletic trainer and lecturer Kathy English, along with professors like Scott Unruh and Kate Heelan, as key influences who reinforced the importance of precision, accountability and an understanding of how the body works.
“The academic rigor of the program was out of this world,” she said. “The knowledge and understanding that I have of the human body and how things are supposed to work isn’t usually something most PE teachers come out with. That’s allowed me to really dive a lot deeper into the strength training world.”
Burson later earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Chadron State College and completed her teaching certification through UNK after arriving in Lexington.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for their influence on my life and everything they do,” she said of her UNK mentors.
Paying it forward
Burson remains connected to UNK by serving as a preceptor for current athletic training students, providing them exposure to both athletic training and strength and conditioning in a high school setting.
“It’s why I keep myself involved in that program – because of the amazing experience that I had,” she said. “If something gives to you, I think it’s important that you give back.”
She also emphasizes collaboration between athletic trainers and strength coaches, believing the two roles are most effective when they work together.
“Athletic trainers are trying to rehab somebody back, and strength coaches are trying to prevent injuries,” Burson said. “If you can get those two professions to understand each other, you’re going to have a pretty dominant team.”
In addition to the national award, Burson was previously named the NHSSCA Region 6 Coach of the Year and Nebraska Coach of the Year.
“Her tireless dedication as Lexington High School’s strength coach and head powerlifting coach has transformed our athletics program and made a lasting impact on countless students,” the district shared on social media. “From building champions to building confidence, her influence is felt far beyond the weight room.”
The recognition represents more than individual achievement, according to Burson, who’s quick to acknowledge the support she’s received from administrators and co-workers, as well as her husband Mark, a fellow UNK graduate who coaches the Lexington High School boys wrestling team and serves as the district’s technology director.
“I definitely want to make sure I thank Lexington High School for giving me a chance to do what I do,” Burson said. “They didn’t have to take a chance on hiring an athletic trainer or a strength coach, and I’ve always felt very supported.”
🏆 2026 NHSSCA NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR 🏆
Congratulations to Amber Burson from Lexington High School (Nebraska) on being named the 2026 NHSSCA National Coach of the Year!
This recognition represents an unwavering commitment to excellence, leadership, and the development of… pic.twitter.com/JuKWhwp5Hm
— Official NHSSCA (@nhssca_us) January 19, 2026