Coach Fitzsimmons <br />named CC Coach of the Year

Coach Fitzsimmons
named CC Coach of the Year The University of South Dakota��?s cross country coach, Dan Fitzsimmons was named 2008 Coach of the Year by the S.D. Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association. Fitzsimmons, first-year head coach at USD, led the Coyotes in their first season at the NCAA Division I level. He guided the team to a successful showing at the Great West Conference Cross Country Championships in Orem, UT in November as the women��?s team finished second and the men��?s team finished fourth. He also led Ramsey Fitzsimmons to earn the women��?s individual Great West Conference championship title as she finished the season a six-time GWC Runner of the Week honoree. Fitzsimmons comes to USD after a decorated coaching career at Yankton High School. In his time with the Yankton High School cross country team, Fitzsimmons led five teams that were ranked in the top 20 in the nation. He guided four teams to the South Dakota AA combined boys and girls state championship. He also coached eight South Dakota AA championship teams, three-straight boys championships (2005-07) and five-straight girls titles (2003-07). Fitzsimmons was named South Dakota Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2003 (girls), 2004 (girls), 2005 (boys) and 2006 (boys and girls). The South Dakota NHSACA Gatorade Circle of Champions named him coach of the year for four-straight years (2004-07). He was also the South Dakota Sportswriters Prep Girls Coach of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Fitzsimmons will also help coach the USD men��?s and women��?s track teams which will host its next competition on Saturday, Jan. 17 in the DakotaDome.