One of the top cross country and track & field coaches in the region for over two decades, the University of Mary Washington’s Stan Soper has earned a lengthy list of accolades. A former distance runner at Frostburg State University, Soper has earned the Capital Athletic Conference Coach of the Year award in either men’s or women’s cross country 20 times, leading the two teams to a combined 23 conference titles. In track & field, Soper has led UMW to 22 CAC titles, including all 16 for the women. In doing so, he has been named the conference track & field coach of the year 19 times. UMW won both the men’s and women’s cross country and track & field titles in 1999-2000 and 2001-02.

A member of Frostburg’s athletic hall of fame, Soper has been at Mary Washington since 1984. During that time frame, UMW has had 47 All-America performers, including 27 in the past 10 years. Soper has coached six NCAA Championship-qualifying cross country teams, and has led UMW to a combined 46 conference titles in 19 years.

A full-time faculty member in Mary Washington’s health and physical education department, Soper recently spent four years serving on the NCAA Division III Cross Country/Track & Field committee. Soper earned his master’s degree in health and physical education from Frostburg in 1977, while assisting with the Bobcat cross country and track & field teams. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Frostburg in 1972, with a degree in physical education. He and his wife, Pam, live in Stafford.