LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Dec. 14) – Following one of the most successful seasons in program history, California University of Pennsylvania head coach Daniel Caulfield was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Coach of the Year on Monday afternoon, announced the league office.

Caulfield, whose wife, Jackie, is an assistant coach, guided the Vulcans to their best finish at the PSAC Championships in 35 years before capturing the program's first-ever title at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. Cal U also made its first team appearance at the NCAA Division II National Championships this fall.

At the PSAC Championships, Cal U featured a pair of top-10 runners at the event for the first time in program history and finished with three All-PSAC performers. The Vulcans later won the title at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships by seven points after each of their top-five runners placed among the top 40 overall, including a pair of top-10 finishers.

Caulfield has mentored five All-PSAC performers over the last two seasons with junior Julie Friend (Markleysburg, Pa./Uniontown) becoming the first repeat honoree in 30 years. Prior to this season, Friend and redshirt senior Alex Zanella (Everett, Pa./Everett) both previously qualified for the NCAA National Championships as individuals, which was a first since the program began competing at the NCAA Division II level.

Cal U captured three invitational titles prior to the championships and also added a runner-up finish. Friend was the team's top runner in all seven races in which she competed in with six top-five performances. Zanella ran in five races and finished second on the team each time with four top-10 times, while redshirt sophomore Summer Hill (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) placed third on the team at all three championship races.

The trio of Friend, Hill and Zanella have combined for 12 PSAC titles in their track & field careers, including seven by Zanella. Additionally, Friend (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Zanella (1-mile run) have earned NCAA All-America laurels in track & field and Zanella was selected a Capital One First-Team Academic All-American last season.

Prior to this season, the Vulcans placed as high as eighth at the cross country league championships in 2013 after finishing between Nos. 12-15 from 2005-11. However, Cal U has placed in the top 10 at the regional championships for three-straight years with its previous best coming in 2014 (fourth), which was two years removed from a 13th-place finish.

Caulfield also helped lead the program to its highest-ever ranking in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Top 25 poll this season, as Cal U was ranked No. 18 in the final poll before the NCAA National Championships. It marked the first national ranking for the Vulcans since they were slotted No. 20 in the 2014 preseason poll.

A native of Ireland, Caulfield was also named the USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year this fall.