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Vigilante and Lane Named Regional Coaches of the Year
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Jason Vigilante, Virginia’s Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, has been named the Men’s Southeast Region Head Coach of the Year, while Carrie Lane has been honored as the Women’s Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year, as announced by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Vigilante, in his first year at the helm of the Cavaliers, led the men’s team to its first-ever ACC Outdoor Championship, tying three-time national champion Florida State for the title. Two athletes won individual ACC titles, while a total of 11 men garnered all-conference honors. Vigilante also brought home ACC Coach of the Year honors for his accomplishments.
In addition, Vigilante had 17 athletes meet the regional qualifying standards this season a school record and saw Yemi Ayeni earn the program its first-ever East Region individual title. The men’s squad finished in a program-best sixth place at the regional championships, and will send four competitors to the NCAA Championships.
Lane, in her fifth season with the Cavaliers, led her women throwers to an ACC Title and four All-ACC performances at the conference meet, where the women scored at least one point in each of the throwing events for a combined 41 points at the meet.
In addition, she had two individual champions at the prestigious Penn Relays and saw her discus throwers sweep the top three spots at the ECAC Championships, while bringing home the ECAC javelin title. Lane’s athletes recorded six NCAA regional qualifying performances this year, including three in the discus and two in the javelin, while three automatically advanced to the NCAA Championships.
The honor marks the second-time Lane has been recognized as an assistant coach of the year, as she was the 2004 Mondo Women’s National Assistant Throws Coach of the Year, while its the second-time Vigilante has been tabbed the top regional head coach this year, as he was named the Women’s Southeast Region Coach of the Year for cross country this fall. He was also named the 2005 Midwest Regional Coach of the Year for distance, the 2005 National Assistant Outdoor Coach of the Year and 2008 National Assistant Indoor Coach of the Year. Vigilante has earned ACC Coach of the Year honors during both cross country and outdoor track and field in his first season with both teams.