Subject: Vigilante Named Virginia’s Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
Posted by: Kris on Wed Aug 6 2008 4:19:35 PM
Message:
Official release
Virginia athletics director Craig Littlepage announced today Jason
Vigilante (VIG-ah-Lan-tee) has been named the Director of Track and
Field and Cross Country for the Cavaliers. Vigilante comes to Virginia
after serving as the associate head men’s track and field and head
men’s cross country coach at the University of Texas.
Vigilante originally joined the Longhorn staff in 1999 as a volunteer
coach for women’s cross country. In 2000 he became an assistant coach
for the men’s track and field and men’s cross country programs. In
August of 2005, he was promoted to the position as Texas’ head men’s
cross country coach.
“Coach Vigilante has the background and experience needed to provide
leadership for the future success of our track and field and cross
country programs,” Littlepage said. “Often teams take on the
personality of their coaches; if that is the case, our teams will show
a high energy level and great enthusiasm which will translate into
success in and out of the classroom.”
“We were extremely pleased with the high quality of interest we
received from very accomplished coaches during our national search
process,” said Valerie Richardson, associate athletic director.
“Ultimately, we determined that Jason would be the best fit to lead
our track and cross country programs to new heights, and we are
thrilled that he will join us at the University of Virginia.”
Vigilante has built a strong reputation for his work with Texas’
middle distance and distance runners, while at the same time
establishing the Longhorns’ men’s cross country program as one of the
best in the nation.
At Texas, Vigilante helped produce six NCAA individual champions, 37
All-Americans, 17 Big 12 Conference champions, three Big 12 Conference
relay champions, six Penn Relays Championship of America champions and
one Olympian. The men’s cross country teams made seven appearances at
the NCAA Championships during his tenure.
His squads have also been recognized for their success in the
classroom, garnering numerous Academic All-America honors, while
individual student-athletes have been tabbed Academic All-Americans
and Academic All-Big 12 selections.
“Having the opportunity to become the director of the track and field
and cross country programs at Virginia accomplishes a lifelong dream
of mine to become a head coach,” Vigilante said. “As an added bonus,
having the opportunity to move to the east coast is an ideal situation
for my family. I’m so grateful for my time at Texas. All of the people
I have been able to work with have been wonderful; DeLoss Dodds, Butch
Worley, Bubba Thornton, all of the sudent-athletes and everyone who
has treated me so well over the past nine years. I am thankful,
optimistic and excited about what my experiences will bring in the
upcoming years as a Virginia Cavalier."
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