Inaugural High School Cross Country Coach of the Year Award to Begin with 2014 Season

NEW ORLEANS – Beginning with this ongoing 2014 season, the top high school cross country coaches at both the national and state levels will for the first time be recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Following the launch of its High School Coach of the Year award during the 2013-14 track & field season, the USTFCCCA will this time honor the top boys’ and girls’ cross country coaches in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia before selecting one coach from each gender as the season’s top national coaches.

"This new High School Cross Country Coach of the Year award – in conjuction our award in the summer for high school track & field – is our way of recognizing the excellent work being done by a group of individuals who are a vital core of our Association," USTFCCCA CEO Sam Seemes said.

Key cross country stakeholders in each state will select the state-level winners, who will be announced in mid-December following the completion of all state championship meets.

Honorees will be chosen based on their teams’ performances not just at states, but throughout the entire season; exceptional campaigns by their student-athletes; consideration of their programs’ recent history; and other factors.

Each of the state-level Coaches of the Year will be in the running for distinct National Coach of the Year awards for boys and girls, to be announced in early January following the conclusion of the national cross country meets. Though not the ultimate determining factor, performances at national meets can be taken into account for the national award, in addition to the state-level criteria.

In the meantime, high school cross country fans can keep tabs on all the action at each of the state championships over the coming weeks on the USTFCCCA’s brand new High School State Championships Central.

ABOUT THE USTFCCCA

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents over 8,000 coaching members encompassing 94% of all NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA as well as a number of state high school coaches associations. The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as a lobbyist for coaches’ interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.