FanSided MMA Awards: Trevor Wittman named the Coach of the Year

The FanSided MMA team has awarded long-time MMA coach and UFC broadcaster, Trevor Wittman, as its Coach of the Year in 2020.

Continuing with its yearly tradition, the FanSided MMA team has compiled awards for all aspects of the sport. The list would not be complete without a mention of our pick for Coach of the Year. This year’s award goes to a veteran of MMA training and one of the main fixtures on UFC television broadcasts, Trevor Wittman.

Wittman has been in the MMA space for a better part of a decade, as he has helped foster some of the world’s best fighters throughout that span. Notable names include Matt Mitrione, Rose Namajunas, Neil Magny, Stipe Miocic, and Georges St-Pierre.

In looking at the landscape of the sport today, Wittman has provided a wealth of knowledge for fighters to succeed, regardless of if he or she has been trained by Wittman or not. During an unprecedented year that featured a global pandemic and the UFC completely redoing its event schedule entirely, Wittman became a critical part of the UFC broadcast team. His addition added a unique aspect for the viewer at home between rounds, as he was able to articulate guidance and expertise to a fighter’s corner that is not normally seen in-house.

Trevor Wittman has trained Justin Gaethje, among other current MMA fighters

The one-time lightweight title challenger, Justin Gaethje, is coached by Wittman and was a critical piece to the puzzle during Gaethje’s run to superstardom. Wittman was awed by Gaethje’s willingness to compete in the Octagon, no matter the circumstances that he had to face. The head coach went as far as to say that Gaethje is “willing to die” to win a world championship.

Wittman remains a key component in the sport, both on the mat and in the booth,  rightfully earning him Coach of the Year honors for 2020.