NEW ORLEANS, La. (November 23, 2021) – Northern Arizona University's Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Michael Smith has been awarded his fifth consecutive USTFCCCA Men's Mountain Region Cross Country Coach of the Year honor.
Smith has owned this title since 2017 and has now garnered this award for the second time this calendar year, as he was most recently named the recipient in March after the COVID-19 cross country season.
Despite the men finishing second at NCAA Mountain Regional Championships last week, the Lumberjacks dominated the season placing first at the Cowboy Jamboree, the FSU Invite, and the NCAA Championship.
On Saturday the NAU men secured their fifth national title in the past six years, after running a phenomenal team race with all scoring runners achieving All-American honors.
The importance of team performance has been consistently demonstrated in each competition, and will continue to be a constant theme throughout Smiths' career.
