Vigilante Named ACC Coach of the Year

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – First-year head coach Jason Vigilante has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Coach of the Year and first-year Morgane Gay has earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors, as announced Thursday by the conference office. The coach of the year honor marks the second conference honor for Vigilante, as he earned the award during the men’s cross country season, while the rookie of the year distinction is the first conference honor for Gay.

Vigilante led the Cavalier men to its first-ever ACC Outdoor Championship last weekend at the University of Miami, tying three-time National Champion Florida State for the title. Vigilante led sophomore Adams Abdulrazaaq to the program’s first-ever individual champion in the 110m hurdles, in addition to seeing senior All-American Yemi Ayeni win his third-consecutive discus title. Throughout the weekend, 11 Cavaliers made the podium, bringing home 15 medals.

The honor marks the third time a Virginia coach has brought home top honors and the first since Randy Bungard was named the coach of the year in 2001. Dennis Craddock also earned the honor in 1984.

Gay, a freshman from Bethesda, Md., earned her first All-ACC honor at the conference championship, finishing third in the 1500m. She also scored for Virginia in the 800m, finishing sixth. Gay has qualified for the NCAA regional meet in both events.

The freshman of the year honor marks the first-ever rookie honor for the Cavaliers.