COLUMBIA – University of South Carolina head coach Boo Major of Blythewood was named Coach of the Year Monday by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA).
It is the second year in a row that Major has been named National Coach of the Year. The Gamecocks won the 2015 National Championship on April 18 in Waco, Texas, upsetting No. 1 Georgia to win the title.
“I am very humbled to receive this award from my coaching peers,” Major said. “Along with our riders, I share this award with my assistant coaches Ruth Sorrel and Hillary Dobbs who did a tremendous job coaching our girls and preparing them to compete at a high level. I’m also proud to share this with our school president Dr. Pastides and athletics director Ray Tanner, and all of our support staff at the University of South Carolina that do so much work behind the scenes support our program.”
The Gamecocks, who train and hold home events at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, went 12-5 this season while winning their third national title. South Carolina was the only team this year to beat all three conference champions (Fresno State, Baylor, Georgia) during the regular season. The Gamecocks also beat the three conference champions in a span of 36 hours in Waco to win the national championship.
Major, who just completed her 18th season at the University of South Carolina, has led the Gamecocks to three national championships (2005, 2007, 2015), three hunt seat national championships (2005, 2006, 2007) and two Southeastern Conference championships (2013, 2014). In 2014, she became the first University of South Carolina coach to lead a Gamecock team to back-to-back SEC titles, a feat matched this past season by Dawn Staley and the women’s basketball team. Major was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2014.
