Caryl Smith Gilbert Named USTFCCCA South Region Head Coach of the Year
Knights’ head coach honored with another accolade.
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) –UCF’s Caryl Smith Gilbert was named the South Region Women’s Outdoor Head Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Monday afternoon.
The award is the second of the year for Smith Gilbert, who also received the USTFCCCA South Region Women’s Head Coach of the Year during the indoor season. It marks the second time that she has revived this honor in her career after also being named the region’s outdoor head coach of the year in 2009.
“I am very fortunate to have received such a great honor from my fellow coaches. To be recognized by your peers with an award like this is really a credit to the entire program,” Smith Gilbert said. “After the indoor season, our team and staff were not satisfied with just winning the indoor conference championship and they fought to win the championship during the outdoor season. They have overcome many challenges this season and I really believe they deserve credit for this award.”
The two-time defending Conference USA Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year has led her team to new heights in 2011. The Knights captured their second C-USA Championship in May and have been ranked in the nation’s top 25 almost the entire season. In claiming its second league title in as many years, the Black and Gold won five individual championships and two relay titles.
The Knights sent a school-record 12 student-athletes to the NCAAA East preliminary Round last weekend in Bloomington, Ind. Freshmen Aurieyall Scott (100m and 200m) and Dominique Booker (100m) will join junior Jackie Coward (100mH) along with the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relay teams this week at the NCAA Championships hosted by Drake. Running events are set to begin Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.