Dirksen Named Midwest Region Coach of the Year

Waterloo, Iowa - Nebraska men’s and women’s cross country Head Coach Jay Dirksen was named the 2003 NCAA Midwest Region Women’s Coach of the Year by the Women’s Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association.

Dirksen’s team saw marked improvement this season. The Huskers won three team titles this season, finished sixth at this year’s Big 12 Championships after finishing 11th last season, won the Midwest Region Championship this season after finishing 13th last year and qualified as a team for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1999. The Huskers, who have been ranked as high as No. 19, finished 30th at the NCAA Championships.

Dirksen’s team also excels in the classroom. Six Huskers were named to the First-Team Academic All-Big 12 cross country team for maintaining at least a 3.2 GPA. Dirksen’s teams have also won the Herman Award nine times. The award, which honors the NU women’s team that compiles the highest team GPA, has been given since 1996 and Dirksen’s women’s cross country team has won the award seven times in the nine-year history of the award, including six consecutive from 1996 to 2001.

Dirksen was quick to give credit to his team for the award.

"It’s a really nice honor, but it’s a team award," Dirksen said.

During his tenure, the NU women have won five regional titles (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 2003), have qualified for 13 NCAA Championships, have won five conference titles and have recorded two top-five finishes at the NCAA Championships (3rd in 1988 and 1999).