University of Tennessee Athletics
Webb Wins National Coach of the Year Honors
March 07, 2002 | Men's Track
March 7, 2002
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- By a vote of his Division I peers, Tennessee head track and field coach Bill Webb received his second consecutive National Coach of the Year Award Thursday night at the U.S. Track Coaches Association NCAA Indoor Banquet at the Radisson in Fayetteville, Ark. Webb's top-ranked Vols also took home the USTCA Dual Meet Power Rankings plaque, the Vols' seventh since 1991.
"We're always honored to accept such a prestigious award on behalf of the University of Tennessee," Webb said. "As it was last year, the honor was a complete team effort from our excellent student-athletes and assistant coaches. As always, (assistant head) Coach Watts and (assistant) Coach Anderson have our guys ready when it counts. I think winning the Dual Meet Power Rankings was the single biggest factor in the Coach of the Year Award. I couldn't be prouder of our team for its consistent performance in our efforts to build a complete, well-rounded squad. We're proud to win this award (team power rankings) for the seventh time since 1991."
Although Webb and his charges had been notified about the team power rankings title, the Indoor Coach of the Year announcement was a surprise as voting by the coaches was just completed Thursday afternoon. Webb first joined all the Indoor Coach of the Year winners for their respective regions in front of the podium. Webb took nods as the South Region Indoor Coach of the Year to make him eligible for the national award. The National Coach of the Year winner was selected from the regional winners. Webb also took National Outdoor Coach of the Year honors last year for Tennessee's NCAA and SEC Outdoor title run. Webb won the 2001 Indoor South Region Coach of the Year honors, as well.
Team members Karl Jennings and co-captain Hassaan Stamps were on hand to help Webb accept the Dual Meet Power Rankings plaque. Stamps addressed the crowd. "We want to thank everybody here for the competition," Stamps said. "It's a blessing to be in the Southeastern Conference, and it's really hard. We want to wish everyone good luck this weekend."
Tennessee opens the NCAA Indoor Championships Friday afternoon at Arkansas' Randal Tyson Track Center. Top-ranked Tennessee has won three NCAA Outdoor titles and a NCAA Cross Country title but never a NCAA Indoor title.
