TEMPE, Ariz. – The 2020 Linda Vollstedt Coach of the Year Award was given to Cliff English, head coach of the women's triathlon team, at the Sun Devil Athletics all-staff meeting on Wednesday.
"I'm absolutely honored and thrilled? to receive the Linda Vollstedt coach of the year award," English said. "Coach V is an inspiration and I am very proud to share this distinction of being a recipient of this award with Coach Missy and Coach Charli! A huge thank you to all the Wings of Gold supporters, Carl and Cher Maltese, to the amazing staff at Sun Devil athletics?, my senior administrators, my coach piers and those that work closely with me. Without all of you this wouldn't be possible. It takes a team to build what we've accomplished? here in four seasons as a program. Lastly I want to thank all my amazing student athletes for jumping on board this opportunity at ASU to study and compete as a varsity athlete in triathlon. This journey has only begun?? and I truly appreciate you all.?"
The award is given to the Sun Devil women's coach who most exhibits the four pillars of the Sun Devil Way: integrity, championship performance, graduation and tradition. The story of Linda Vollstedt and how her award came to be can be found here. Traditionally, the award is presented at the annual Wings of Gold event, which is put together to support women's sports at Arizona State. The event was canceled this year due to COVID-19.
English led his squad to their fourth-straight USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship in November 2019, sweeping the championship in every season since its inception in 2016. In 2019, English's squad took first place in all three regular season qualifiers for the second year in a row. ASU dominated right at home in Tempe at the National Championship, with Kyla Roy winning the individual national title. For his efforts, English was named the College Triathlon Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year for the third season in a row.
"We are thrilled to learn that Coach Cliff English is the 2020 Linda Vollstedt Coach of the Year," said Carl and Cher Maltese. "His work with ASU triathletes is impressive on all fronts. His efforts and achievements clearly embody the spirit and purpose of the award. Congratulations Coach English!"
This is the third year that the award has been presented. Last year, the women's basketball head coach Charli Turner Thorne won the award. In 2018, Missy Farr-Kaye from women's golf took home the honor.
The Wings of Gold fund supports the rich tradition of women's collegiate athletics at Arizona State by acting as an advocate and support system for all 14 Sun Devil women's athletic programs. The unrestricted dollars raised through the Wings of Gold fund are evenly distributed between the 14 programs and will be used for recruiting, academic and other essential needs necessary to compete at the highest level.
For more information, head to sundevilclub.com/wog.
"I'm absolutely honored and thrilled? to receive the Linda Vollstedt coach of the year award," English said. "Coach V is an inspiration and I am very proud to share this distinction of being a recipient of this award with Coach Missy and Coach Charli! A huge thank you to all the Wings of Gold supporters, Carl and Cher Maltese, to the amazing staff at Sun Devil athletics?, my senior administrators, my coach piers and those that work closely with me. Without all of you this wouldn't be possible. It takes a team to build what we've accomplished? here in four seasons as a program. Lastly I want to thank all my amazing student athletes for jumping on board this opportunity at ASU to study and compete as a varsity athlete in triathlon. This journey has only begun?? and I truly appreciate you all.?"
The award is given to the Sun Devil women's coach who most exhibits the four pillars of the Sun Devil Way: integrity, championship performance, graduation and tradition. The story of Linda Vollstedt and how her award came to be can be found here. Traditionally, the award is presented at the annual Wings of Gold event, which is put together to support women's sports at Arizona State. The event was canceled this year due to COVID-19.
English led his squad to their fourth-straight USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship in November 2019, sweeping the championship in every season since its inception in 2016. In 2019, English's squad took first place in all three regular season qualifiers for the second year in a row. ASU dominated right at home in Tempe at the National Championship, with Kyla Roy winning the individual national title. For his efforts, English was named the College Triathlon Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year for the third season in a row.
"We are thrilled to learn that Coach Cliff English is the 2020 Linda Vollstedt Coach of the Year," said Carl and Cher Maltese. "His work with ASU triathletes is impressive on all fronts. His efforts and achievements clearly embody the spirit and purpose of the award. Congratulations Coach English!"
This is the third year that the award has been presented. Last year, the women's basketball head coach Charli Turner Thorne won the award. In 2018, Missy Farr-Kaye from women's golf took home the honor.
The Wings of Gold fund supports the rich tradition of women's collegiate athletics at Arizona State by acting as an advocate and support system for all 14 Sun Devil women's athletic programs. The unrestricted dollars raised through the Wings of Gold fund are evenly distributed between the 14 programs and will be used for recruiting, academic and other essential needs necessary to compete at the highest level.
For more information, head to sundevilclub.com/wog.