[1] Mussabini, who died in 1927, is considered to be the first professional (paid) coach in sport, breaking the occupation's amateur (voluntary) public school roots.
[2][3] The Mussabini Medal celebrated "the contribution of coaches of UK performers who have achieved outstanding success on the world stage.
[4] This award was named after Geoff Dyson, the first chief national athletics coach, who died in 1981.
[1][5] The Mussabini Medal was introduced in conjunction with the launch of the Coaching Hall of Fame.
[6] The medal and associated awards were launched to raise the profile of coaches, and increase the financial backing to enhance the profession, still seen at the time as a largely amateur vocation in spite of Mussabini's pioneering example.