Slippery Rock University head track and field coach John Papa was named Tuesday as the Atlantic Region Women’s Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
The honor marks the 16th Regional Coach of the Year recognition in Papa’s 29-year career at Slippery Rock. He has also been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 19 times over that stretch.
Papa earned the top honor in voting by his peers among all coaches in the PSAC, the Mountain East Conference and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The award comes on the heels of Slippery Rock claiming its fifth PSAC title on the women’s side since 2007 after The Rock stormed back on day two of the league championship meet two weeks ago to top defending champion Shippensburg.
