JESSIE MCCABE
Besides being the coach of the 6A cross country state champions, Justin Leonard now gets to call himself the Cross Country Coach of the Year.
The Carroll ISD coach of 16 years was recently named the 6A Coach of the Year by the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas. According to the CCCAT website, coaches normally win the award for coaching either boys or girls cross country teams. Coach Leonard is the first 6A coach in five years to have won in both categories.
“It’s an honor to be recognized as the 6A Coach of the Year for both boys and girls,” coach Leonard remarks. “This award is a reflection of our amazing runners, assistant coaches, parents and community and all of their efforts they put into our program.”
Coach Leonard says the Carroll cross country boys and girls had an outstanding season, not just for winning their first state championship together in five years, but also placing 14th and 20th overall at the 16th annual Nike Cross Nationals at Portland in December. Senior Katherine McElaney says they were able to perform at the level they did because coach Leonard believed in them.
“Coach Leonard will believe in anyone,” Katherine says. “He knows that when you join the program if you’re not the fastest, he knows with hard work, you can get really good.”
Coach Leonard says he feels honored with the recognition, but the real reward to him is seeing his team succeed and watch their hard work pay off.
“I learned a long time ago that great kids make coaches look good,” coach Leonard chuckles.
You can read the full 2019 CCCAT coaches of the year listing at CCCAT.org.