CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Southern Utah's cross country head coach Eric Houle has been named Big Sky Women's Coach of the Year for the 2018 season. Coach Houle has been able to create a nationally ranked team at SUU this season on the women's side for the first time.
"The best part about being a coach is having the opportunity to work with athletes and even change lives," commented Houle. "Receiving new athletes into the program every year, learning how they work, seeing their improvements is really what keeps the excitement of coaching alive."
In previous years, the Southern Utah women's cross country team has continued to improve. In 2015 the women finished 10th place at the Big Sky Conference Championships. The women continued to improve in 2016 when they finished third, however it wasn't until this season that the women claimed their first Big Sky Conference title.
"Having a coach like Eric that has so much experience and has built the type of program he has is a truly great thing for this department," SUU Athletic Director Debbie Corum said. "I want to congratulate coach Houle for this honor, and know he will continue to do great things for each team he oversees in the future."
Houle began this season taking his team to the UC Riverside Invitational where the women swept the competition.
The T-Birds were lead in Riverside by All-Conference athletes Angie Nickerson, Madison Fruchey, Maddy Kauffman and Alison Pray. The women dominated the race in the top ten allowing the team to finish ahead of California Baptist University and Utah Valley.
Nickerson claimed her first Big Sky Athlete of the Week award of the season after her performance at the UC Riverside Invitational.
The season continued as the Thunderbirds competed at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational where the women competed against nationally ranked teams such as No.1 New Mexico and No. 4 Colorado.
In Wisconsin, the women were able to finish 14th out of 33 teams at the invitational. They were lead by Nickerson and Kauffman.
At the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals, the Thunderbirds had the second chance to compete against nationally ranked teams. The women had a strong performance lead by Nickerson in 15th place and Kauffman in 24th place.
The women were able to finish eight ahead of No. 29 Georgia.
After this competition, the women broke into the national rankings for the first time in Southern Utah history.
This competition also led Nickerson to her second Big Sky Athlete of the Week award during the season.
Two weeks later the Thunderbirds moved ahead to the Big Sky Championships where they claimed their first Big Sky Conference Women's title. The team was lead by Nickerson who claimed the Individual Championship as well as All-Conference performers Kauffman, Fruchey and Pray.
The women finished the race over 30 points ahead of Northern Arizona. After this performance, the women moved ahead in the rankings and are currently No. 22 according to NCAA polls.
"It's such an honor to work with the coaches in the Big Sky," added Houle. "I couldn't create the team we have without the opportunity to work with those coaches as well as the staff I have backing this program."
The Thunderbirds will be competing at the Mountain Regionals on November 9 in Provo, Utah. The women will be taking on No.1 New Mexico, No.4 Colorado and No. 9 BYU.
Stay current on SUU cross country by following @SUUTFXC on Twitter and Instagram and like the Southern Utah Track and XC page on Facebook.
Head to www.suutbirds.com for all Thunderbird athletics news.
