ARLINGTON, Texas — Utah Valley University head coach Scott Houle was named the Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, the league announced on Tuesday. It's the 12th time in his career he's been named WAC Coach of the Year, nine of which have come in cross country.
 
Houle led the 22nd-ranked women's team to its fourth WAC title last week in Abilene, Texas, an upset victory after the team was picked to finish second before the race.
 
His women's team has been ranked nearly the entire season and is vying for its second straight appearance at the NCAA Championships. The men's and women's teams will both compete at the NCAA Mountain Regionals on Friday in Lubbock, Texas.
 
In addition to his success in the WAC, Houle also accumulated 20 Great West Conference championships in just four years in that league. He has 32 Coach of the Year honors and is in his 20th year leading the cross country and track & field programs at UVU. 
 
The WAC Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year awards were determined by peer vote of other WAC head coaches based on overall season performance, while the Freshman of the Year awards are presented to the top true and/or redshirt freshmen finishers in each gender at the WAC Championships meet.
 
2023 WAC Cross Country Awards
 
MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Arturs Medveds, Grad, California Baptist
 
MEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Valentin Soca, R-Fr., California Baptist
 
MEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR
Adam Tribble, California Baptist
 
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Greta Karinauskaite, Sr., California Baptist
 
WOMEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Matro Jepkemboi, Fr., UT Arlington
 
WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR
Scott Houle, Utah Valley