In mid-November, Michelle Cross signed the paperwork to become the second track & field head coach in Waynesburg University history.

Three months later, she accepted a plaque from the Presidents’ Athletic Conference naming her PAC Coach of the Year to loud chants of her nickname, “Rocky,” from Waynesburg University’s men and women’s track & field teams.

“More than being called up and given an award,” Cross said. “I think what I’ll remember the most out of it was the team response…I’ve never experienced that in my life.”

Following in the footsteps of former head coach Jason Falvo, who is largely responsible for creating the legacy of Waynesburg’s track & field programs, Cross said there was uncertainty entering the new season.

“When you lose a presence like [Jason Falvo], as large as a presence as he is, there is always a question of what the next year will look like,” Cross said.

For Cross, the question was whether or not she could hold the track & field programs up to expectations. Entering the season, Cross was handed something some coaches only dream about – a championship-caliber program. With clear potential, Cross said the pressure was something she often thought about leading up to the championships.

“What was in my head more than anything is ‘oh my word, you have a team that was voted by [nearly] every single team in the PAC conference to win this indoor championship and if you take them and you don’t do that your first-year coaching – what are people going to say?’” Cross said.

Besides the awards, Cross said she also gained a newfound confidence in her coaching abilities as she transitions into the outdoor track & field season – and also a team that trusts her.

“I just think I was more overcome from the display of support and gratitude,” Cross said. “I get to work with every one of these [athletes] every day and it is this type of scenario that gets me the opportunity [to do that].”

While the women’s program was polled to finish first in the conference, Cross said the meet was closer than it had been in years past, with Waynesburg beating second place Geneva by just four points, 127-123.

From a coaching perspective, Cross said she needed each individual athlete to push themselves to their potential, something that doesn’t necessarily always happen.

“Coaching is always interesting…anytime you and the staff want something for your athletes, but you know that it is ultimately in their hands to do that – it’s always interesting,” Cross said. “I think sometimes I see more what people can be, or what they are, before they get to see it themselves. It’s in those moments like that some people have that realization, ‘oh, I am strong, I can step up.’”

In an indoor season that Cross said is always a frenzied “sprint” before settling down to start the outdoor season, she had the time to focus on the championship meet but not much else, including the possibility of winning PAC Coach of the Year.

“At one point or another while we were planning [for the championship] it sort of dawned on me: if we get this, then I’ll probably get coach of the year awards,’” Cross said. “But honestly it wasn’t a huge thought in my head.”

Following the award ceremony, Cross stood amongst both the men and the women’s track & field programs and realized the determination behind both teams. From a season that began without a coach; a men’s program that defied expectations finishing three places higher than predicted; a women’s team that persevered through one of the hardest championships in recent years—Cross had a simple message for them.

“I was very proud and very aware that it could have gone very differently for both teams,” Cross said.

“I just prayed and thanked them.”