Utah State Athletics Announces Contract Extensions For Four Head Coaches
Utah State University Director of Athletics Scott Barnes announced Friday that four head coaches – Heather Cairns (Women’s Soccer), Grayson DuBose (Volleyball), Gregg Gensel (Track & Field/Cross Country) and Jeff Richards (Gymnastics) – have received contract extensions to remain at USU.
Gensel signed a 10-year extension keeping him at Utah State through the 2020-2021 academic year, while Cairns and DuBose both received four-year contract extensions through the 2014 season. Richards signed a two-year extension that runs through 2012-13.
“I have said that athletics is to Utah State University what the front porch is to one’s home. It’s not the most important room in the house but it is the most visible. We couldn’t be more proud of the coaches and student-athletes who stand on our front porch representing us every day,” stated Barnes.
“The long-term commitment by this group of coaches, along with the others we have recently extended, provides Aggie Athletics with tremendous stability and a bright future moving forward. All have earned coach of the year honors, won championships or guided their respective programs to postseason opportunities. And our student-athletes are succeeding at a high level in the classroom,” Barnes added.
Gensel, who just completed his 23rd season as the men’s head track & field coach and 18th year as the women’s head track & field coach, has led Utah State to 33 conference championships during his Aggie career, including 14 Western Athletic Conference Championships in its first six years in the league. Overall, Gensel has earned conference coach of the year honors 29 times.
During the 2010-11 academic year, the Aggie men won both the indoor and outdoor WAC Championships, while the Aggie women finished second during both seasons. USU’s women also placed second at this year’s WAC Cross Country Championships, while the men placed third.
“I am excited and honored to be trusted with the responsibility of continuing to guide the track & field and cross country programs at Utah State,” said Gensel. “I have spent nearly 30 years coaching at USU, and this is where I have always wanted to be. With this extension, there is no doubt that I will finish my coaching career as an Aggie.”
Cairns will be entering her ninth season as Utah State’s head women’s soccer coach in 2011 and has led USU to a pair of regular season WAC Championships (2008, 2010) during the past three years. Cairns, who was named the WAC’s Coach of the Year in 2008, is the winningest soccer coach in school history. During the last two years, Cairns has coached the WAC Offensive (2009) and WAC Defensive (2010) Players of the Year.
“I am excited to carry on the success that we have worked hard for and look to further our accomplishments,” said Cairns. “Utah State soccer is made up of a fantastic group of coaches and players that are dedicated to achieving excellence on the field and in the classroom, and I am very appreciative of Scott Barnes and the administration for allowing me to continue to lead this group in striving toward those goals.”
DuBose, who is entering his sixth season at Utah State, is already the third-winningest volleyball coach in school history. During the 2010 season, he led USU to its first-ever WAC Tournament Championship as it upset top-seed and third-ranked Hawai’i, becoming the first school in 11 years to defeat the Rainbow Wahine in the championship match. USU also advanced to its fourth NCAA Tournament in school history in 2010 and finished the year with a 24-9 record as those 24 wins ranks as the seventh-most in school history and the most since 1982.
DuBose, who was named the WAC’s Coach of the Year in 2007, was one of five finalists for the Collegiate Volleyball Update National Coach of the Year this past season.
“I am excited that Scott Barnes, and Executive Associate Athletic Director Jana Doggett, are willing to trust me with the continued leadership of the volleyball program,” said DuBose. “I want to thank the players and coaches that I have been fortunate enough to work with through the years that have afforded me this opportunity. I look forward to working with our current group of student-athletes for many years to come. I would also like to thank the USU fans and students for their support; it means a lot to me and our team.”
Richards just completed his third year at Utah State and was named the NCAA Division I National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches (NACGC) North Central Region Co-Coach of the Year this past year. During the 2011 season, Richards coached five Aggie individuals to the NCAA North Central Regional Championships.
“I was thrilled to get the chance to come back and be an Aggie again when I was hired in 2008,” said Richards. “I feel we have made a lot of progress in my first three years, and I am excited for the future. I am grateful to be a part of the Aggie Family.”