Aaron Simoneau Named Big Ten Cross Country Men’s Coach of the Year
11/5/2025 3:02:00 PM | Cross Country
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After a runner-up finish at the B1G Championship, Aaron Simoneau was named Big Ten Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, by the league's coaches on Wednesday.
He coached the Spartans to a second-place finish in the Big Ten Championship on Oct. 31 in East Lansing, which was the program's highest finish since 2017. Michigan State also won the 40th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial and the B1G Preview earlier this season.
Under his guidance, Riley Hough and Thomas Westphal have both had successful individual seasons. The two finished in second and third place, respectively for the Spartans in the Big Ten Championship. They have each been named Big Ten Runner and Freshman of the Week three times this season, respectively.
Simoneau is the first Michigan State men's head coach to capture Big Ten Coach of the Year honors since Jim Stintzi in both 1987 and 1988. Walt Drenth was Great Lakes Region Men's Coach of the Year in 2017. Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau was named Big Ten Women's Coach of the Year in both 2022 and 2020. Drenth earned the honor on the women's side five times, while Stinzi captured the award on the women's side in 2001.
The Michigan State graduate, who ran cross country from 2007-12, has been full time with the Spartans since 2014.
The Spartans have this week off, but both the No. 13 men's team and the No. 23 women's squad are back in action at the Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 14 in Evansville, Indiana.
Jack Penewell and Chloe Wall also earned Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees.
He coached the Spartans to a second-place finish in the Big Ten Championship on Oct. 31 in East Lansing, which was the program's highest finish since 2017. Michigan State also won the 40th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial and the B1G Preview earlier this season.
Under his guidance, Riley Hough and Thomas Westphal have both had successful individual seasons. The two finished in second and third place, respectively for the Spartans in the Big Ten Championship. They have each been named Big Ten Runner and Freshman of the Week three times this season, respectively.
Simoneau is the first Michigan State men's head coach to capture Big Ten Coach of the Year honors since Jim Stintzi in both 1987 and 1988. Walt Drenth was Great Lakes Region Men's Coach of the Year in 2017. Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau was named Big Ten Women's Coach of the Year in both 2022 and 2020. Drenth earned the honor on the women's side five times, while Stinzi captured the award on the women's side in 2001.
The Michigan State graduate, who ran cross country from 2007-12, has been full time with the Spartans since 2014.
The Spartans have this week off, but both the No. 13 men's team and the No. 23 women's squad are back in action at the Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 14 in Evansville, Indiana.
Jack Penewell and Chloe Wall also earned Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees.
Players Mentioned
Competitive Drive | Spartans All-Access
Wednesday, October 09
Spartans All-Access | Setting the Tone
Thursday, August 15
Spartans All-Access: Lauren Freeland
Wednesday, November 15
Spartans All-Access: 2023 XC Big Tens
Tuesday, October 31