Hixson 7W3 Named USCAA National Coach of the Year; Hernandez 2W7 Named USCAA National Runner of the Year

The 2025 Williamson men's cross country season was one for the ages, as Williamson head coach Steve Hixson 7W3 was named the 2025 United States Athletic Association Men's Coach of the Year, while junior runner Bryan Hernandez was named the 2025 United States Collegiate Athletic Association Male Runner of the Year at the 2025 National championships in Fayette, PA, recently.  

In addition to those two honors, the Williamson squad finished in fourth place overall at Nationals, the college's highest finish ever at the annual event. 

Hixson, whose 21-year Williamson coaching career has seen many highlights, had to admit he never saw the award for being named the top coach in the country coming.  "I was talking to the team when they started reading off the highlights of who the Coach of the Year was going to be. To be honest, I wasn't really paying too much attention until they go the end and announced my name.  "I was shocked when I heard my name called." 

As if that wasn't enough national recognition for the school, junior runner Bryan Hernandez, fresh off earning All-American honors for the second straight year, was named the 2025 USCAA Male Runner of the Year.  The award combines not only excellence in running, but also excellence in the classroom as well. 

At Nationals, the Top 10 runners to finish earn All-American honors.  Hernandez finished 8th at this year's Nationals, earning him All-American honors for the second straight year.  By earning such for the second time, he became the first two-time All-American in Williamson cross country history. 

In addition to another outstanding year racing, Hernandez is an outstanding student as well.  The Construction Technology-Electrical program major carries a 3.97 cumulative Grade Point Average to date. 

"Bryan is an outstanding young man and a wonderful representative of Williamson both on and off the course.  I'm very happy for him," shared Hixson. 

As if Williamson's fourth place finish at Nationals wasn't amazing enough, it is how they managed to finish fourth despite two significant hardships, that might be the most amazing thing of all.

Boasting one of the top runners in the USCAA is freshman Chase Ely.  Williamson looked to be a strong contender for a Top 5 finish, but those chances dropped though when the team's third-ranked runner (top five runners score in the event) missed due to a memorial service for his recently deceased brother. 

Despite being down a runner, Williamson's depth, which has been a strong point all season, was put to the test. Things however took a dramatic turn for the worse halfway through the race, when Ely, who as leading the race at the three-mile mark and was on pace to claim the individual National championship for the men, fell and was so badly injured that he could not continue. 

Hixson said, "I felt so bad for Chase.  Here he was, with a chance to win it all, and suddenly that was taken away from him due to the injury. It was so sad." 

Now down two of their top five runners, Williamson somehow had to find a way to finish strong.  And they did just that, with Hernandez (8th), Joseph Gambrill (19th), Mark Carallas (29th) DeShawn Robinson (41st ) and Denton Reff (46th) all stepping up to finish in the top 50 runners and lead the team to a fourth-place finish out of 19 colleges represented.  Amir Price also finished in the top 50 at 47th. 

"I challenged our guys to step it up and boy did they ever step it up," shared an elated Hixson.  I could not be prouder of them.  Each guy came through in a big way and because of that, we were able to finish fourth in the nation.  That says so much about our guys." 

For anyone thinking that success might end, Williamson only had two seniors on their 20-man roster, and all top five runners return next year.  As good as things were this year, next year could be even more special.  For now though, Hixson is just thankful for the guys and their success this year. 

"Cross Country is a huge commitment.  Our guys are running hard every night from August through November.  We start when it is hot and end when it is cold.  And for Williamson guys, that is after eight hours of class each day.

"For our guys to go through what they do and still achieve the success they did, is a real credit to each and every one of them.  It truly was an honor to coach them this year." 

While Hixson has done an incredible job over the years, what Williamson was able to accomplish as a team this year has truly been remarkable.