JAMES Lee and Dr. Ron Snyder were honored for their contributions to CNMI sports during the Northern Marianas Sports Association’s banquet Tuesday evening at the Kensington Hotel.
Lee was named Administrator of the Year.
After he became president of the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation, it made significant strides in 2021.
These included securing a corporate sponsorship for the first time for the five divisions of the PSS Interscholastic League; the establishment of “Bola,” a Mini-Basketball Village Outreach Program; securing multiple grants from FIBA Oceania for equipment; and overseeing the growth of various programs such as “Bola,” the Elite Women’s Program, and the “Her World, Her Rules” Youth Girls Camp.
Lee was likewise selected as representative to the FIBA Rising Coach Program, and spearheaded the establishment of the first ever NMI senior and junior national programs.
Moreover, he introduced the Educational Tax Credit program to assist NMSA and other federations in gaining more funding sources for their operations and competitions.
Lee is the strength and conditioning coach for NMIBF national athletes and is an NMI national outrigger athlete as well.
A multi-sport athlete, he has also been an obstacle course finisher.
“I really wasn’t expecting this award,” he said. “Everything that the basketball federation has accomplished within the year was not just by me alone,” he added as he acknowledged the NMIBF board members, coaches, athletes, supporters, and his wife. “This is for you,” Lee said.
An outstanding coach
The Coach of the Year is Dr. Ron Snyder who is also the headmaster of Saipan International School.
An outstanding coach who has been working with CNMI students since the mid-1990s, he coaches SIS which he has transformed as an athletics powerhouse.
He has coached several CNMI teams in international competitions in Japan, Guam and Australia.
His athletes have been named All-Stars and the 2019 team brought home the first trophy for the NMI in the Asia Pacific XC Championships.
In addition to his work with Kids Athletics, Snyder is among the founding members of Run Saipan which organized community events for island residents at a time when other sports opportunities remained closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
He has coached adult athletes in the Micronesian Regional Championships, Oceania 10K Championships, and now is the head coach for the CNMI national team, getting local athletes ready for the Oceania Athletics Championships, the Pacific Mini Games and the Micronesian Games.
He was nominated to serve on the Oceania Athletics Coaches Commission, and constantly strives to improve himself for his athletes, having successfully completed both the World Athletics Mid/Long Distance Level 2 coaching course and the Level 1 lecturer’s course.
Fellow coaches, NMA officials, parents and athletes all have wonderful things to say about Snyder’s work ethics, and his love for sports.
In his remarks, he thanked all the coaches of the CNMI and the Northern Marianas Athletics for the continuous support.
James Lee and Dr. Ron Snyder each received a trophy and a $100 shopping spree at I-Shop courtesy of the Tan Siu Lin Foundation.
James Lee, second left, is this year’s Administrator of the Year. Also in photo are Northern Marianas Sports Association President Jerry Tan, right, and board members Nick Gross left, and John Hirsh, 2nd right.
Dr. Ron Snyder delivers his remarks upon receiving the Coach of the Year Award during the Northern Marianas Sports Association’s annual banquet Tuesday evening at the Kensington Hotel.
