National Indoor Coaches of the Year Named in DIII
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announces the national award winners for 2013 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field season as chosen by the nation’s coaches. National Championship coaches Josh Buchholtz of UW-La Crosse and Ben Dorsey and Drew Ludtke of UW-Oshkosh were named National Coaches of the Year, while UW-Whitewater’s Eric Schueffner and Monmouth (Ill.)’s Brian Woodard were named National Assistant Coaches of the Year.
National Men’s Coach of the Year
Josh Buchholtz – UW-La Crosse
Buchholtz, in his fifth season with the Eagles, guided the UW-La Crosse men to their 16th NCAA DIII indoor team crown, the most in division history. His Eagles scored 74 team points, defeating runner-up UW-Oshkosh by 34 points with the highest winning total since a UWL title in 2006. UW-La Crosse claimed three individual titles and boasted 18 All-Americans – most of any team in the field.
His Eagles captured WIAC team title scoring 178½ points to win by more than 30 points.
Recent Winners:
2013: Josh Buchholtz, UW-La Crosse
2012: Frank Gramarosso, North Central (Ill.)
2011: Frank Gramarosso, North Central (Ill.)
2010: Al Carius, North Central (Ill.)
2009: Toby Schwarz, Whitworth
2008: Walter Wandall, Moravian
2007: Roger Haynes, Monmouth
National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
Eric Schueffner – UW-Whitewater
Schueffner, in his second season with UW-Whitewater coaching combined events, jumps and middle distance, guided four student-athletes in the long jump and triple jump to a combined 23 points of the Warhawks’ 35 total at the NCAA DIII Indoor Championships. He mentored Marcus Smith to a runner-up finish in the triple jump (50-4/15.34m) and three Warhawks to a 3-4-5 finish in the long jump.
His student-athletes scored 45½ of the Warhawks’ 106 points at the WIAC Conference Championships.
Recent Winners:
2013: Eric Schueffner, UW-Whitewater
2012: Pat Ebel, UW-Oshkosh
2011: Guy Mosher, Central (Iowa)
2010: Tim Winder, North Central (Ill.)
National Women’s Co-Coaches of the Year
Ben Dorsey & Drew Ludtke, UW-Oshkosh
Dorsey and Ludtke, both in their first seasons as co-head coaches of the Titans, led UW-Oshkosh to its second NCAA DIII Indoor team title in the past three seasons. The Titans scored 56 points to defeat runner-up Illinois College by 24 points behind five event titles and another third-place finish. Christy Cazzola accounted for three of the individual crowns with wins in the mile, at 5000 meters and in the DMR, while Breanna Strupp and Samantha Leow took home titles in the shot put and weight throw, respectively.
Recent Winners:
2013: Ben Dorsey & Drew Ludtke, UW-Oshkosh
2012: Marcus Newsom, Wartburg
2011: Pat Ebel, UW Oshkosh
2010: Marcus Newsom, Wartburg
2009: Marcus Newsom, Wartburg
2008: Chris Schumacher, Illinois Wesleyan
2007: Marcus Newsom, Wartburg
National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
Brian Woodard – Monmouth
Woodard, in his 15th season coaching throwers at Monmouth, guided a pair of student-athletes to 16 of fifth-place Monmouth’s 24 points at the NCAA DIII Indoor Championships. Under his tutelage, Allison Devor finished runner-up in the weight throw and seventh in the shot put, while Raven Robinson finished third in the shot put. Devor was one of just two student-athletes in DIII to surpass 60 feet in the weight throw this season.
His student-athletes swept the top three places at the Midwest Conference meet in both the shot put and weight throw for a total of 48 team points.
Recent Winners:
2013: Brian Woodard, Monmouth
2012: Steve Johnson, Wartburg
2011: Markus Allen, Buffalo State
2010: Katie Wagner, UW La Crosse