WYOMING – Big Piney High School (BPHS) head outdoor track and field coach Jess Nugent snagged the 2023 Spring Sports Coach of the Year Award for 2A girls’ track from her peers at the Wyoming Coaches Association.

The BPHS Lady Punchers returned from Casper with the 2023 2A Girls’ State Track and Field Championship on May 20. Nine Big Piney athletes, both boys and girls, earned All-State recognition at the 2023 Wyoming Track and Field Championships.

Nugent joined the Sublette County School District No. 9 (SCSD9) team in 2009 and currently teaches K-5 physical education at LaBarge and Big Piney elementary schools. Nugent coached outdoor track at BPHS for 14 years and stepped into the role as head coach for the program five years ago.

Nugent also coached girls’ swimming and volleyball at BPHS and served as a basketball coach for both the high school and middle school programs. In addition to her coaching duties, Nugent supervised athletics at Big Piney Middle School as activities director for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Nugent frequently volunteers time to officiate sports events for SCSD9.

This spring, the SCSD9 Board of Trustees unanimously approved Nugent as the BPHS activities director and head outdoor track coach for the 2023-2024 school year.

Nugent is the president-elect for the Wyoming Coaches Association.