Rigg with the 2017 Zionsville team after winning the state xc title
After 7 years as the Zionsville head girls cross country coach, Suzanne Rigg has made the decision to step down. This was not an easy decision for the coach who turned the Lady Eagles into one of the top programs in the state. Rigg wants to be able to experience her children, Oliver and Sophia's final years competing in college. Oliver is a soon to be graduate of the University of Alabama and Sophia has just finished her 2nd year at North Carolina State.
When Rigg took over in 2013, the Eagles had just won their first ever sectional title and took 2nd in the regional the year before. State had never been a reality for the Eagles. In the last seven years as head coach, Rigg has guided the team to a state meet appearance every season, accumulating 1 state title and 2 runner-up finishes and every year finishing in the top 10.
Sophia Rigg recaps the 2017 state title and what its like being coached by her mother.
She told Will Willems of the Zionsville Times Sentinel that even though there is never a "right" time to step away, but under the current circumstances it allowed her more time to step back and think about this decision. She has grown to see these girls as family, so leaving something like that was not an easy decision.
We wish Coach Rigg all the best and hopefully down the line she'll make a return to the coaching scene as she has definitely shown she can help turn a cross country program around and be one of the best.