Coach Rick Miller (L) and Cary Littlefield (R) are named USTFCCCA Texas Cross Country Coaches of the Year
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Each year, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Country Association (USTFCCCA) names track and field and cross country coaches in the state as Coach of the Year award winners. This week, they named their state wide coaches of the year for the 2022 cross country coaches season. Lovejoy girls head coach Carly Littlefield and Grapevine boys head coach Rick Miller received the honors for Texas.
Carly Littlefield led the Lovejoy girls to their second consecutive UIL 5A state title. The Lady Leopards scored 28 total points, the put their entire 5 scoring runners in the top 11 finishers at the state meet.
Coach Littlefield was previously named the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) 5A girls Regional head coach of the year for cross country, the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas (CCCAT) 5A girls coach of the year, and the Texas Girls Coaches Association 5A-6A girls of the year .
Photo Credit - Jim McGuinness
After the UIL state meet, the Lovejoy girls qualified to compete in Portland, Oregon for the national championships. It was the first time in program history they earned the honor.
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Rick Miller's award was earned for leading his team to multiple awards leading to personal accomplishments. The Grapevine boys won their third consecutive UIL 5A boys cross country state championship. On the heels of individual runner-up and third place finishes, they scored only 56 points, almost twice as half as the runner-up team. Also under Miller's tutelage this year, the Grapevine qualified to compete for a national championship in Portland, Oregon.
The team accomplishments led to several accomplishments for the coach. Along with being named Texas' coach of the year for the TFCCCA, he was awarded the NFHS Texas coach of the year, the CCAT 5A boys coach of the year,
Each coach of the year for the respective states, including Littlefield and Miller will be in the runner for the national coach of the year.