Southern Conference Athletes of the Year
The Southern Conference Athlete of the Year Awards are selected annually by the Southern Conference athletics directors and a media member representing each conference school. The award recognizes athletic achievement, academic performance and civic involvement. Prior to 1990-91, the award was selected solely by members of the Southern Conference Sports Media Association. Beginning in 1991-92, the men's award was named after the late Bob Waters, who was Western Carolina's head football coach from 1969-88.
Over the years, 11 Mocs have earned SoCon Athlete of the Year Honors. The most recent winner was football student-athlete Cole Strange in 2022. He is one of three past male winners from UTC. Chattanooga is second in the SoCon with nine female honorees. The last to represent UTC from a women's sport was women's basketball standout Taylor Hall in 2014.
