University of Kentucky gymnastics coaches Mo Muhammad and Tom Haley were both recognized by the National Collegiate Athletics Association for their outstanding coaching efforts during the 2006 campaign Friday. Muhammad earned NCAA Central Regional Head Coach of the Year honors, while Haley earned Assistant Coach of the Year.

After last season?s breakthrough campaign, third-year coaches Muhammad and Haley and first-year assistant Jackie McCarter helped take Kentucky to new heights in 2006. As a team, the Cats produced an all-time program-best 16 wins and went the entire season ranked among the top 20 in the country. UK earned a second consecutive bid to the NCAA Regionals and will be represented at the 2006 NCAA Championships by junior Krystle Cook who earned a berth by way of winning the Central Regional vault competition.

?This award is clearly a result of all this team?s achievements,? Muhammad said. ?We have raised the bar of this program, something we plan on doing for seasons to come. I can?t say enough about how hard my coaching staff and the team worked.?

Haley?s coaching strength on the uneven bars was evident throughout the season as the Cats entered the regional meet ranked 15th in the nation ? its highest ranking of the four events. Three current Wildcat gymnasts own marks on the program?s all-time list, led by Cook?s two career 9.925s. Under Haley?s tutelage, UK posted the sixth-highest bars mark in school history earlier this season (49.150, vs. C. Michigan, 3/12).

?It makes the job a lot easier when you have consistent performances like we?ve had this season,? Haley said. ?It is a great honor to receive the award but the credit really needs to go to the team. Their commitment and hard work is the reason I got recognized.?

With the Cats? team season complete, the coaching staff can look forward to a promising 2007 season with every Wildcat who competed in 2006 returning.