Cross Country

Michel named USTFCCCA Men's Cross Country
National Coach of the Year

Becomes first female to win award for men's cross country

by Bobby Heiken, Western State SID 

Western State Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach Jennifer Michel has been named the National Men's Coach of the Year by the United State Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Michel in her first year as head coach of the Mountaineers led the Western men to a second place finish at Saturday's NCAA Division II National Championships. Michel also led the Western women to a sixth place finish at the National Championships.

Michel also led Western men to a second place finish at the RMAC Championships and a first place finish at the North Central Regional Championships. Because of that Regional finish, Michel was picked as the North Central Regional Men's Coach of the Year.

While females have won the Regional Men's Coach of the Year honor, it is believed that Michel is the first female to win the National Men's Coach of the Year honor in cross country at any level. Also it is believed that only a few - in any - females have won the Men's Coach of the Year honor in any sport.

Michel took over control of the Western State program in the Summer of 2007. Prior to that, Michel served as the top assistant in the cross country program, as well as an assistant with the Western State Track and Field program.

In addition to her coaching duties, Michel served as the Recruiting Coordinator for the Western Track and Field program. She helped the Mountaineers land a program-record 47 recruits following the 2005-06 school year.

As a student-athlete at Western State, Michel earned eight All-American honors in Track and Field and Cross Country. In Track and Field, Michel won the NCAA Division II National Championship in the Steelpechase, 3,000 and Indoor Mile. Michel still holds the National Championship record in the Steeplechase.