FERRIS' JEFF KAVALUNAS EARNS GLIAC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY AWARD

Ninth-Year Head Coach Named League's Coach Of The Year For 2004 Campaign

FSU's Jeff Kavalunas Was Named The 2004 GLIAC Women's Cross Country Coach Of The Year

Kavalunas guided the nationally-ranked Bulldogs to a third place finish at the GLIAC Championships as FSU tallied 95 points in the 13-team field and had two first-team All-GLIAC honorees in junior Jenny Irwin and senior Rachel Cox. Prior to the league meet, Ferris had won three consecutive meet championships to date this season under Kavalunas and was ranked 14th in the most recent (Oct. 18) NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches Association National Women's Rankings along with third in the NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Rankings. This season's national ranking also marks the first time Ferris has ever been nationally-ranked under Kavalunas.

In addition to Kavaluans, Grand Valley State head coach Jerry Baltes was named the 2004 GLIAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year. Ashland's Nate Iler earned 2004 GLIAC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year honors and GVSU's Nate Peck claimed GLIAC Men's Cross Country Freshman of the Year plaudits. Northern Michigan's Stephanie Howe was named 2004 GLIAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year and GVSU's Karlie Singleton earned GLIAC Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year kudos. The awards were voted on by the league's 13-member head coaches.

Kavalunas, who also coaches men's cross country along with both men's and women's track and field at FSU, was previously named the GLIAC Coach of the Year for women's indoor track and field two consecutive years (1998-99). He served five years (1991-96) before his arrival at Ferris State as the head coach of the men's and women's cross country and track programs at Northwood University in Midland, Mich. Northwood had the 1993 NAIA National Champion in the long jump during his tenure.

Prior to NU, Kavalunas assisted head coach Walt Drenth with the men's cross country program and head coach Jim Knapp with track at Central Michigan University from 1988-91. While at CMU, he played an integral role in helping the Chippewas' cross country squad finish among the top 20 teams at both the 1988 and 1989 NCAA Division I National Championships. Central also won the Mid-American Conference championship in each of those years as well. Kavalunas began his coaching career in 1988 at his alma mater, Ogemaw Heights High School, in West Branch, Mich.

Kavalunas continued his cross country and track career at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. He received a bachelor of science degree in physical education in 1987 and went on to earn a master's in physical education (exercise physiology) at Central Michigan University in 1990.

Kavalunas is a member of the NCAA Division II Track and Field Coaches Association Board and also serves as an all-academic coordinator for Division II track and field.