College of Idaho coach Ron Bonneau retires after 30 years

Ron Bonneau, the head coach of the College of Idaho Ski Teams and the Northwest Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Conference Coordinator, has announced that he is retiring at the end of this season after 30 years at the helm.

Since 1990, the College of Idaho Ski Teams have had unparalleled success under Coach Bonneau. He has coached nine individual USCSA Collegiate National Champions, with his Nordic and Freeski teams also winning thirteen team Collegiate National Championships. Even more importantly, 105 of his athletes have been recognized as National USCSA Scholar-Athletes. 

Since 1990, the College of Idaho Ski Teams have had strong success under Coach Bonneau. He has coached nine individual USCSA Collegiate National Champions, with his Nordic and Freeski teams also winning thirteen team Collegiate National Championships. Even more importantly, 105 of his athletes have been recognized as National USCSA Scholar-Athletes. 

For over 20 years, Coach Bonneau has also served as the conference coordinator for the Northwest Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Conference and on the USCSA Board of Directors. During this time, he organized hundreds of conference races throughout the northwest and was instrumental in bringing five Collegiate National Championship events to the state of Idaho, helping to showcase the state for athletes all over the world. 

Looking back, some of Coach Bonneau’s favorite memories relate to the team philosophy and camaraderie that USCSA offers its members. Many times over the years he has seen this team centric attitude lead to  athletes stepping up and contributing to teams in ways that go beyond just racing. As conference coordinator, he has also worked with athletes to manage all aspects of their teams, helping them to learn valuable life and business skills along the way.

“Having the opportunity to be able to do what you love to do for 30 years at one institution has been extraordinary,” added Coach Bonneau. “The resulting gifts from this experience of sharing life skills through the medium of skiing and ski racing has exceeded expectations and has been most rewarding.  Now, going forward, I am looking towards a new chapter to help influence other young adults to have the courage to seek their dreams and goals, for anything is possible if you try.”

“I haven’t had the pleasure to work with Ron extensively over his long career being relatively new to the organization,” said USCSA Executive Director Alec Tandra-Kuhns. “But my few years with Ron have been filled with the utmost admiration and respect for his dedication to the sport, shaping athletes into national calibre competitors and upstanding members of society. When asked who understands the true mission and values of the USCSA, I unequivocally mention Ron Bonneau every time.”

The USCSA is the sports federation for collegiate team ski racing and snowboarding in America. The USCSA believes that student-athletes of all levels and abilities should have access to quality and exciting venues of competition. USCSA athletes agree that our team orientation fosters a collaborative approach across their collegiate athletic and academic careers, and often this mentality proves indispensable in their adult lives and careers. The organization includes 170 colleges from coast to coast, fielding 5,000 male and female, alpine, freestyle, cross-country, snowboarding and nordic ski jumping athletes in over 300 events annually. Ahead of the start of competition, USCSA members are encouraged to read the current Competition and Rules Manual, which can be found at https://www.uscsa.com/rules–bylaws.html

Words courtesy of USCSA.