Four recognized with coaching honors from the 5CTCA

SALINAS - The 5CTCA Executive Board would like to congratulate the 2023 Cross Country Coaches of the Year. Selections were nominated by their respective conferences or individual coaches and approved by the Executive Board. Congratulations to all our 5CTCA coaches on an outstanding fall season. You all provide your athletes with memorable and life-changing experiences at the two-year level.

Women's Head Cross Country Coach of the Year
Sean Ricketts (San Diego Mesa College)
Coach Ricketts lead the Olympian women to their second consecutive state runner-up trophy led by freshman Alexis Noble taking the individual title. The Olympians also had Kyana Cook pick up All-State honors.  San Diego Mesa was also the SoCal Regional champions with the Olympians posting a perfect score of 15 points to win their conference championship

Women's Assistant Cross Country Coach of the Year
Mike Wilson (Riverside City College)
Coach Wilson helped guide the 2023 Tigers to the Orange Empire Conference title and a third-place finish at the SoCal Championship with two top-14 individual finishes. Riverside City would end the season with a fine fourth-place finish at state led by All-American Nadia Munoz in 12th. This was the second time in three years that the women Tigers cracked the top 5 at state.

Men's Head Cross Country Coach of the Year
Jim Ratigan (San Bernardino Valley College) 
Coach Ratigan produced one of the most improved teams in all the state taking the Wolverines from 22nd place in 2022 to 5th in 2023 led by All-State finisher Vinnie Quiroz. SBVC was fifth at the SoCal Championship with Quiroz in 12th overall. The Wolverines produced a low score of 18 points in winning the Inland Empire Conference Championship.

Men's Assistant Cross Country Coach of the Year 
Daniel "DJ" Ozan (Mt. San Antonio College)
Coach Ozan masterfully guided the Mounties to their second consecutive state team title winning by five points over a tough San Diego Mesa team. The Mounties put an impressive seven runners into the top 21 overall, each earning All-State honors. The Mounties won the SoCal Championship with four runners in the top 14 and all seven in the top 27. Mt. SAC was the South Coast Conference champion with a remarkable 12 runners in the top 14.

(Christopher Zepeda, 5CTCA)