Pepin Named Big 12 Men's Outdoor Coach of the Year

Lincoln, Neb. ----- Nebraska head coach Gary Pepin was named Big 12 Outdoor Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year, the Big 12 office announced Wednesday.

Pepin, who has been the head track and field coach at Nebraska for 19 years, helped lead the Husker men to their third Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championship this past weekend in Columbia, Mo. Earlier in the year Pepin was selected as Big 12 Indoor Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year, marking the second time that he has won honors back-to-back (1998, 2002).

The all-time winningest track and field coach in the history of the Big 12 Conference and the former Big Eight Conference, Pepin has led his team to 56 men's and women's conference titles. Along the way Pepin has earned seven Big 12 men's coaching awards since the conference's inception in 1996.

Pepin is currently preparing to take several Huskers to the NCAA Championships Wednesday through Saturday, May 29-June 1, at Baton Rouge, La.

Kansas State's Cliff Rovelto was named the Big 12 Outdoor Women's Track and Field Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach to be awarded consecutive titles since Beverly Kearney in 1999.

Athlete's who were named Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Performer of the Year were multi event, senior standout, Austra Skujyte of Kansas State and Kansas's senior thrower Scott Russell. Skujyte claimed the title for the second year in a row.