USA Table Tennis Announces 2025 Coaches of the Year

Honorees include Yue (Jennifer) Wu, Vlad Farcas, Maggie Tian, Lidney Castro, and Dr. Tuan Le.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Table Tennis (USATT) proudly announced the recipients of its 2025 Coach of the Year Awards, which honor exceptional leadership, athlete development, and competitive achievement. This year’s awards recognized excellence across able-bodied, para, developmental, and innovative coaching.

The USATT Coach of the Year Selection Committee designated the awards after reviewing submissions by USATT members. The selection committee included the Chair of the High Performance Committee – Khoa Nguyen, National Team Head Coach - Jun Gao, Para Program Manager - Jasna, USATT Board Member - Amy Feng, One Athlete Representative and USATT CEO Virginia Sung.

Yue (Jennifer) Wu is the 2025 National Coach of the Year (Able-Bodied).

“Winning this award is an immense honor that resonates with me both personally and professionally. Having competed at the Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup and Pan Am Games, I have a deep appreciation for the grit this sport demands; this recognition serves as powerful encouragement to keep evolving as a coach,” said Jennifer Wu upon receiving the award.

Coaching Highlight:  Wu led the 2025 U.S. U13 National Teams to claim multiple titles at the U13 Pan Am Championships Guatemala.

“To me, this award represents more than a personal milestone, it is a responsibility. It reflects the trust, effort, and growth of my athletes and stands as a testament to our collective journey. Moving forward, I remain fully committed to my coaching, striving to contribute even more to the vibrant growth and future of table tennis!” – Jennifer Wu

Maggie Tian is named Developmental Coach of the Year (Able-Bodied).

“I’m truly honored to receive the 2025 USATT Developmental Coach of the Year Award. It means a great deal to be recognized, especially because youth development is something I care deeply about. This award really belongs to the athletes, families, and coaching team who work hard every day. Seeing young players grow not only in skill, but also in confidence, discipline, and love for the sport is the most rewarding part of coaching,” said Maggie Tian about the accomplishment.

Coaching Highlight: Guided the 2025 U.S. U11 U.S. National Teams to victory at the U11 Pan Am Championships Guatemala.

“Leading the 2025 U11 teams to gold at the Pan Am Championships was an unforgettable experience. I’m incredibly proud of how the players competed with focus, courage, and strong teamwork. At that age, performing on an international stage can be overwhelming, but they showed maturity beyond their years. Their success reflects consistent training, trust in the process, and great support from their families and staff.” – Maggie Tian

Vlad Farcas is named National Coach of the Year (Para).

“As the first year of the LA 2028 Paralympic cycle, 2025 was about development supported by countless hours in the training hall. That work led to a strong ITTF Para Pan American Championships, three athletes qualifying directly to the World Championships, and over 50 international medals for our program. I’m extremely proud of this team.” — Vlad Farcas.

Coaching Highlight: Vlad is recognized for his leadership in para programs at the U.S. High Performance Center and aiding the U.S. Para Team’s development and competitive advancement at the international level in 2025.

Lidney Castro is the Developmental Coach of the Year (Para).

Winning this award is a great honor. It shows that the work is being done the right way and gives me even more motivation to keep moving forward," commented Lidney Castro about receiving the award.

Coaching Highlight: Coaching men's singles class 6 Sam Altshuler throughout his extraordinary success and rapid rise in global rankings. Aiding with the U.S. Para Team’s development at the U.S. High Performance Center.

"Sam has made great progress with more international experience. Beyond his talent, his greatest strength is his love for playing table tennis, which pushes him to keep improving. Coach Vlad is doing a great job leading the Para Team, and the future is very bright." — Lidney Castro

Dr. Tuan Le receives the Doc Counsilman Award for excellence in innovative coaching.

“Esports and virtual reality present a powerful and largely untapped opportunity to grow table tennis in the United States. Among existing platforms, Eleven Table Tennis VR stands out as the most realistic and accessible bridge between digital play and real-life table tennis.” — Dr. Tuan Le.

Coaching Highlight: Recognized for utilizing virtual reality coaching; giving athletes realistic access to high-quality training without the need for a physical club, while offering realistic accuracy that makes the coaching truly effective.

Every year, USA Table Tennis recognizes exceptional coaches who elevate our sport and inspire athletes nationwide. We are proud to celebrate the outstanding individuals who received these prestigious awards for 2025. Their work reflects the passion, service, and impact that define the best of our coaching community.