NEW HAVEN, CT (July 13, 2009) - University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach Bob Heller has been selected to serve as the representative of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) on the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) Division II Cross Country Executive Committee.

Conference representatives on the cross country and track and field executive committees were established as part of the reorganization of the association's leadership structure at their annual convention in 2008.  This provides a better fit with the Division II philosophy of involving conference representation. In addition, establishing conference representatives provides more accountability for those representatives and more opportunities for coaches seeking greater involvement in USTFCCCA. 

Heller's term began on July 1, 2009 and will run until June 30, 2011. As USP head coach, Heller has also served as the CACC's sport chair for cross country, a post he has held since cross country was established as a conference sport in 2000. 

Now entering his 12^th season as the head cross country coach for both the men's and women's programs at USP, Heller's teams have enjoyed a good deal of success this decade.  Last season, the USP men's program recorded their best finish ever at the CACC Championship, placing second behind Felician College and later at the NCAA East Regional, finishing in 16^th place.  The women's program has placed in the top half at the conference championship meet in each year since cross country became a conference sport nine years ago, winning the conference championship on 2005.   

USP's cross country programs have been equally successful in the classroom, with both the men's and women's teams recording team g.p.a.'s of over 3.2 this past semester.  Both programs were named Division II All-Academic Teams by the USTFCCCA, with the women's team earning the honor for the sixth straight year and the men their second straight and third in the last four years.

A two-time CACC women's cross country Coach of the Year, Heller also serves as the athletic department's assistant athletic director, handling all of the sports information duties of the department along with assisting with NCAA compliance and serving as an academic advisor for first and second year student-athletes.