The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Jason Vigilante named head Men's Cross Country coach
08.24.2005 | XC: Men_Old, Track & Field / Cross Country
AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas men's associate head track and field coach Jason Vigilante has been promoted to the newly-created position of men's head cross country coach. The announcement was made Wednesday by UT men's head track and field coach Bubba Thornton. Vigilante also will retain his duties as associate head track and field coach for the men's program.
"We are at a time in the development of our program where we have a person in place who deserves this promotion," said Thornton, who begins his 11th season at Texas. "Jason not only has developed our cross country team into a national contender, but he also understands the importance of the whole program. His energies and enthusiasm are tremendous assets to the total athletics program at The University."
Named the 2005 National Assistant Coach of the Year and Midwest Regional Coach of the Year for distance by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Vigilante begins his seventh season in Austin. Vigilante led UT to a 12th-place finish at the 2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships and a second-place finish at the Big 12 meet.
He also has led the Longhorns' cross country squad to four top-25 national finishes. In addition, he was instrumental in helping the Texas track and field program place 10th indoors and eighth outdoors at the 2005 NCAA Championships. The UT men's program was one of only four programs (men's or women's) nationally to finish in the top 12 nationally last year in cross country, indoor and outdoor track.
Sophomore Leonel Manzano (Marble Falls, Texas) flourished under Vigilante's tutelage a season ago, claiming the 1,500 meter national title at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Then-freshman Manzano also set a new school record and captured a conference title in the mile at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships.
A graduate of North Carolina State University, Vigilante came to Texas from his alma mater, where he served as a graduate assistant from 1997-99. The Wolfpack recorded two NCAA top-10 finishes and collected two Atlantic Coast Conference championships under Vigilante's tutelage. A three-year letter winner at N.C. State, Vigilante earned All-ACC honors after his senior season.