Award History
NCAA DIII ITF National Awards2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Member coaches voted on these honors following the conclusion of 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, but considered performances throughout the season when voting on these honors.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Aidan Ryan was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year. Ryan, who hails from New York, New York, capped a record-breaking year by scoring 20 points at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships thanks to a meet record-setting victory in the mile (4:05.60), a close runner-up finish in the 3000 meters (0.47 seconds) and anchoring Williams to second place in the distance medley relay. During the regular season, Ryan set NCAA DIII records in both the mile (3:56.86) and 3000m (7:54.48). He also anchored the Ephs to the second-fastest performance in NCAA DIII history in the DMR with a 3:56 split, among other feats.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Kassie Parker was named the National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year. This is almost a coronation for Parker, who hails from Guttenberg, Iowa, as she put together one of the finest seasons ever seen by an NCAA Division III athlete. You can start at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships, where Parker scored 22 points for the champion Duhawks with a distance double and toting the baton on the runner-up distance medley relay (Parker set a meet record in the 5000 meters of 16:15.06 and moved up to No. 2 on the all-time, record-legal chart). But rewind to the regular season and you’ll see that Parker became the first woman in NCAA DIII history to crack the 16-minute barrier in the 5000, regardless of track size, with her 15:58.88 effort at the Iowa State Classic. One week earlier at the Meyo Invitational, Parker turned 3000 meters in 9:13.10 for one of the fastest efforts in NCAA DIII history, regardless of track size.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Kyle Rollins was named the National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year. Rollins, who hails from Geneseo, New York, soared to great heights in the high jump this season. It was at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships where Rollins continued his divisional dominance with a commanding victory: Rollins didn’t miss a bar on his way to his podium-topping height of 2.12m (6-11½). Rollins also finished seventh in the triple jump in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. During the regular season, Rollins matched the third-best performer in NCAA DIII history in the high jump with a clearance of 2.20m (7-2½).
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Hannah Zenkovich was named the National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. Zenkovich, who hails from Antigo, Wisconsin, scored points by the bushel in field events throughout the season. It was at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships, where Zenkovich put up 13 points with a victory in the pentathlon and a sixth-place effort in the long jump. She improved her seasonal best in the multi to 3744 points, which also cemented her spot among the top-6 performers in NCAA DIII history. During the regular season, Zenkovich stood out at the WIAC Indoor Championships with a pentathlon victory and a runner-up finish in the long jump.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Jeff Stiles was named the National Men’s Coach of the Year. Stiles, who is in his 21st year as the head coach at Washington (Mo.), led the Bears to a share of the men’s team title at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. WashU entered the NCAA meet ranked 16th in the National TFRI, but used an incredible array of performances to vault itself to its first indoor national title in program history. The Bears captured two event titles thanks to Andrew Whitaker in the 60-meter hurdles as well as the distance medley relay, saw their 4×400 relay snag runner-up honors and Jacob Ridderhoff placed fourth in the 3000 meters. During the regular season, Stiles led WashU to the team title at the UAA Indoor Championships.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Matt Jones was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year. Jones, who is in his ninth year at Loras, led the Duhawks to the women’s team title at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. Loras scored 59 points in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, behind four event titles – 400 meters, 3000 meters, 5000 meters, 4×400 relay – and a host of other strong performances. This was the Duhawks’ third consecutive national title, counting both indoors and outdoors. During the regular season, Loras won a thrilling battle for the team title at the American Rivers Conference Indoor Championships, and set at least eight school records.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Dusty Lopez was named the National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year. Lopez, who is in his sixth year as assistant coach at Williams, mentored one of the nations’ top distance programs. His athletes combined to score 28 of the Ephs’ 32 points at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships, which helped them earn just their second podium finish in program history. During the regular season, Lopez’s athletes set NCAA DIII records in both the mile (3:56.86) and the 3000 meters (7:54.48) and clocked the second-fastest mark in divisional history in the distance medley relay (9:42.29).
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Matthew Scheffler was named the National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year. Scheffler, who is in his 16th year as assistant coach at Ithaca, oversaw a robust contingent of vaulters. Three of his athletes qualified for the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships and scored 16 points for the Bombers thanks to an individual title from Meghan Matheny and a third-place effort from Sara Altonen, who set a PR of 3.85m (12-7½) at the meet. During the regular season, Matheny topped 4.00m (13-1½) to establish her all-conditions best.