In 2004, Coach Dan Teresa was named one of three individuals in a nationwide contest by USA WEEKEND magazine as winner of its Most Caring Coach Award. Readers were asked to nominate those who were not just coaches, but mentors. More than 1,000 names were submitted.

The USA WEEKEND editorial staff selected the seven finalists and passed them along to the judges, who included Dusty Baker of the Chicago Cubs, former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, ESPN2's Leslie Maxie, 2004 U.S. Olympic track and field coach George Williams, Stanford University women's tennis coach Lele Forood and Charlotte Sting coach Trudi Lacey.