National Coaches of the Year Announced for NCAA DII Outdoor T&F
NEW ORLEANS – Following the 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships this past weekend in Bradenton, Florida, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Thursday this season’s National Coaches of the Year.
National championship-winning head coaches George Williams of Saint Augustine’s and Russ Jewett of Pittsburg State were named the Men’s and Women’s Coaches of the Year, respectively.
Pittsburg State’s Brian Mantooth and Hillsdale’s Joe Lynn were voted Men’s and Women’s Assistant Coaches of the Year, respectively.
The winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches.
Read more about all four honorees below.
MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
GEORGE WILLIAMS — SAINT AUGUSTINE’S
Williams, in his 40th season as the SAU head coach, led the Falcons of Saint Augustine to the NCAA Division II Championships national team title. His Falcon men scored 85 points, more than doubling the 36-point totals posted by co-runners-up Tiffin and Texas A&M-Kingsville. During the regular season, he led his team to the CIAA title with 203 points over Virginia Union’s 139.83 points.
WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
RUSS JEWETT — PITTSBURG STATE
Jewett, in his 30th season at Pittsburg State, led his women to the program’s first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship. His Gorillas scored 52 points, just one more than runner-up Saint Augustine’s. During the regular season, he guided his team to as high as No. 1 in the USTFCCCA National Team Rankings. His Gorillas claimed the MIAA team title over then-No. 1 Lincoln.
MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
BRIAN MANTOOTH — PITTSBURG STATE
Mantooth, in his 15th year guiding Pittsburg State throwers, coached Garrett Appier to the NCAA DII record, the NCAA DII Championships record and the 2016 all-college lead in the shot put. Appier won the NCAA DII shot put title, and Bo Farrow was fifth in the discus. His athletes totaled 58 points for the runner-up Gorillas at the MIAA Championships.
WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
JOE LYNN — HILLSDALE
Lynn, in his third year leading the Hillsdale distance program, mentored Emily Oren to high-point scorer honors at the NCAA DII Championships with a pair of national titles in the steeplechase and the 1500, and an additional third-place effort at 5000 meters. Overall, his athletes scored 43 points at the national championships – all but two of Hillsdale’s third-place total. He guided his athletes to an impressive nine top-10 national performances this year. Under his tutelage, Oren broke the NCAA DII steeplechase record and her sister, Emily, ranked No. 2 this season.