WILLIAMSBURG - The 2010 winners of the annual Alumni Association awards were honored at a banquet at the William and Mary Alumni House on Sept. 16. Among this year's winners was former William and Mary track and field coach, Alex Gibby '97, who was recognized for his outstanding coaching as Coach of the Year.

Alex Gibby, now taking up a new challenge as track and field coach at the University of Michigan, led the Tribe to conference titles and the NCAA championships in cross country in each of his seven years with his alma mater. Last season, the cross country team was ranked in the national top 10 and finished fifth at the NCAAs. Three runners were named All-Americans as the team made their best showing since 1973.

?I really enjoyed the time I had at William and Mary,? says Gibby. ?I feel really fortunate that I had the opportunity to coach and grow there. There's a lineage of success that's established and that's what you look for in an epitaph: You took a good tradition and made it better.?

In 1996, the Coach of the Year Award was established to recognize exceptional coaches at William and Mary. In addition to their successes in competition, the award also seeks to honor the coach that mentors and motivates his or her players. Thanks to a generous gift by the late Mel Wright '47 and Carol Wright Hardy '49, the Coach of the Year award will continue in perpetuity to recognize the best in Tribe coaching. The winner of the award receives a $1,000 honorarium as well as the Coach of the Year Crystal Vase.

Founded in 1842, the William and Mary Alumni Association is a separately incorporated nonprofit organization that encourages alumni of the College of William and Mary to remain active partners in the life of the university. The Alumni Association's programs nurture friendships, inspire pride and build an appreciation among alumni for William and Mary's long tradition of achievement. For more information about the Alumni Association, visit www.wmalumni.com.