Villanova University

Nov. 25, 2009

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova women's cross country head coach Gina Procaccio was named women's Division I National Cross Country Coach of the Year honors as announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Procaccio is in her ninth season at the helm of the Villanova women's cross country program.

The Wildcats won the 2009 NCAA Cross Country National title on Monday, earning the program's eighth championship after finishing sixth a year ago. This was Procaccio's first title as a head coach. She was an assistant when Villanova last won a championship in 1998.

"What an honor it is to be voted NCAA Coach of the Year by my peers," Procaccio said. "As an athlete you dream of becoming an Olympian. I fell short of that. As a coach you dream of winning a national championship. I was determined not to let that dream pass me by."

Villanova's top five scoring runners earned USTFCCCA All-American honors en route to a team score of 86. In addition, Procaccio, the Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, led the Wildcats to the Mid-Atlantic Region title and the BIG EAST Conference title this season.