Walker Named NCAA South Region Coach of the Year
11/16/2007 12:00:00 AM
NEW ORLEANS ?? The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced today that Alabama men's cross country coach Joe Walker has been selected as the NCAA South Region Coach of the Year.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Coach Walker deserves to be the coach of the year for our region," head coach Harvey Glance said. "He has done an outstanding job with our cross country team year in and year out and now has us on the verge of being a top 10 national program every season."
Walker has led the Tide to one of the programs best seasons in school history, being ranked as high as eighth in the national polls this season and ranked as the top team in the South Region throughout the season. Alabama won the NCAA South Regional last weekend for the fourth time in the last seven seasons under Walker.
At the NCAA South Regional the No. 17 Tide turned in a score of 28 points, which was 24 points ahead of second place Florida State and 54 points ahead of No. 24 Florida who finished third.
All five of the Tide's scorers at that meet finished in the top 14 and earned All-South Region Team honors. Sophomore Emmanuel Bor finished in second place, junior Augustus Maiyo was third place, freshman Andrew Kirwa was fourth place, junior Abraham Kutingala was in sixth place and junior Titus Koeh rounded out the Tide scorers with a 14th place finish over the 10k course.
"It is always an honor when you are recognized by your peers," Walker said. "I want to give a lot of credit to Coach Glance, it is under his direction that we have put together the style of team he wants us to have."
Sophomore Emmanuel Bor won the Southeastern Conference individual championship and was named the SEC's Male Athlete of the Year earlier this season. Freshman Andrew Kirwa was the top freshman finisher at the SEC Championships and earned SEC Freshman of the Year.
"Since taking over the cross country and track & field programs here at Alabama I have made sure that cross country is a priority. We have put a lot of scholarships in that area. I want us to be extremely competitive in all three seasons of cross, indoor and outdoor," Glance added.
Walker will lead the Tide at the NCAA Championships Monday afternoon in Terre Haute, Ind.
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