Vigilante Named ACC Coach of the Year

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia head coach Jason Vigilante has been named the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, as announced today by the conference office. In his first season at the helm of the Cavaliers, Vigilante directed the men’s squad to its second-straight ACC cross country title and third in four years.

A former NC State runner and All-ACC honoree, Vigilante’s Cavaliers out-distanced the Wolfpack, who placed second, by 16 points to claim Virginia’s fourth ACC title. The Cavaliers placed four runners in the top 10, including sixth-year Ryan Foster, the program’s first-ever men’s individual champion.

“Having the opportunity to be named coach of the year is more a representation of the athletes and the staff than anything else,” head coach Jason Vigilante said. “I’m honored that my peers at other schools have given us this recognition, and I want to thank coach Brad Hunt, our trainer Shelly Blakey and the rest of our support staff for contributing so much to our success.”

Vigilante has led Virginia’s men’s and women’s squads to team championships at both the Lou Onesty and George Mason Invitational this season. The men are currently ranked No. 13 nationally.

Virginia heads to Panorama Farms on Friday to compete in the Cavalier Open, the final home meet of the season. The men’s 8K race begins at 4 p.m., with the women’s 5K race to follow at 4:45 p.m.