University of Minnesota Athletics
Plasencia Named Midwest Region Coach of the Year
3/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
The U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has named Minnesota’s Steve Plasencia as the recipient of the 2009 USTFCCCA Men’s Track NCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year award. Plasencia will receive the award at a banquet at this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in College Station, Texas.
Plasencia is in his first season as the head coach of the Golden Gopher men’s track program but is a 13-year veteran of the coaching staff. Last July, Plasencia added the head track responsibilities after serving as the Gophers’ head men’s cross country coach for 12 seasons. Now with 13 cross country seasons at the helm, Plasencia has led the Gophers to NCAA Cross Country Championships 11 times.
Two week ago, Plasencia guided Minnesota to the Big Ten team indoor title, the Gophers’ second Conference indoor crown and first since 1998. The Gophers captured individual Big Ten titles in five events and scored points in 16 of the 18 events overall. Minnesota’s 42-point win was the largest margin of victory since 2004 and the fourth largest over the past 20 years. Plasencia was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year as well.
Plasencia is in his first season as the head coach of the Golden Gopher men’s track program but is a 13-year veteran of the coaching staff. Last July, Plasencia added the head track responsibilities after serving as the Gophers’ head men’s cross country coach for 12 seasons. Now with 13 cross country seasons at the helm, Plasencia has led the Gophers to NCAA Cross Country Championships 11 times.
Two week ago, Plasencia guided Minnesota to the Big Ten team indoor title, the Gophers’ second Conference indoor crown and first since 1998. The Gophers captured individual Big Ten titles in five events and scored points in 16 of the 18 events overall. Minnesota’s 42-point win was the largest margin of victory since 2004 and the fourth largest over the past 20 years. Plasencia was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year as well.
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