April 4, 2002

PROVO, Utah - Recipients of BYU's Annual Athletic Awards were honored Wednesday by the Cougar Club at its annual award's banquet.

Headlining the group of award winners is All-American running back Luke Staley, who received the prestigious Dale Rex Memorial Award. In just three years at BYU, Staley rewrote the record books on his way to becoming one of just 12 Consensus All-Americans in BYU football history. This past season Staley led the nation in scoring (15.5 points per game) and yards per carry (8.1) on his way to winning the coveted Doak Walker Award.

Since 1947, the Dale Rex Award has been given annually to the person who has done the most to promote amateur athletics in the state of Utah.

In addition to Staley, 13 other BYU student-athletes were recognized for their athletic and academic excellence as well as their service to the community.

Student-Athletes Honored
Luke Staley - Football - Dale Rex Memorial Award
Stacy Jensen - Women's Basketball - Competitor Award
Mike Wall - Men's Volleyball - Crowd Pleaser Award
Oli Keohohou - Softball - Crowd Pleaser Award
Brandon Doman - Football - Competitor Award
Justin Wilcock - Diving - Cougar Club Memorial Award
Michelle Mahaffey - Volleyball - Kimball Memorial Award
Jeff Harbach - Men's Tennis - Dale R. McCann Team Spirit Award
Carrie Summerhays - Women's Golf - Dale R. McCann Team Spirit Award
Jeff Hansen - Track & Field - Ed Stein Award
Kelly Parkinson-Evanson - Women's Gymnastics - Outstanding Senior Female
Eric Nielsen - Men's Basketball - Floyd Johnson Service Award
Lisa Osguthorpe - Basketball-Floyd Johnson Service Award
Tara Northcutt - Track/Cross Country-Leona Holbrook Spirit of Sport

"The recipients of these awards are among the finest student-athletes in the country," said BYU men's athletic director Val Hale. "Their individual and team accomplishments on and off the field have brought a great deal of respect and recognition to the University."

Two BYU athletic programs were also honored by the Cougar Club as the men and women's team of the year. Established in 1993, the Athletic Team of the Year Award honors the academic and athletic accomplishments of BYU student-athletes and their coaches.

Led by 2001 NCAA Coach of the Year Karl McGown, the men's volleyball team won its second NCAA Championship in the last three years with a crushing 3-0 defeat of UCLA. The men's volleyball team won the national championship in 1999 as well.

Coaches of the 2001 men's volleyball team include Carl McGown, Hugh McCutcheon, and Troy Tanner. Team members include, Jonathan Alleman, Joaquin Acosta, Scott Bunker, Todd Clevenger, Chris Gorny, Jeremiah Larsen, Tim Layton, Hector Lebron, Jaime Mayol, Omar Olmeda, Shawn Olmstead, Matt Olsen, Fernando Pessoa, Luka Slabe, Mike Wall, and Mac Wilson.

The women's team of the year was awarded to National Champion Cross Country team. Led by Patrick Shane, the Cougars have placed either first or second in the nation in each of the past five seasons. At the 2001 National Championships, the Cougars defeated second-place North Carolina State by 86 points, in one of the most dominating victories in NCAA history.

Coaches of the 2001 women's cross country team include Patrick Shane, Craig Poole and Richard Legas. Team members include Kassi Andersen, Lisa Antonelli, Tia Babbel, Amy Lynn Bair, Jaime Lynn Cottle, Nannette Evans, Jolee Gillespie, Jessie Kindschi, Nicole Magelsen, Michaela Manova, Emily Mars, Katie Martin, Katie Moon, Tara Northcutt, Kristen Ogden, Julia Ostler, Jill Rencher, Tiffany Rust, Breanne Sandberg, Anika Smith, Emili Smith, Sarah Taylor, Lindsey Thomsen and Devra Vierkan.

"The Annual Awards Banquet is a celebration of all that our teams and coaches have accomplished," said Cougar Club Executive Director Michael Middleton. "Just looking at the achievements of this year's award winners is an indication of the quality of BYU's athletic program and the direction that it's heading. The Cougar Club is proud to support the success of such outstanding student-athletes and coaches."