National Coaches of the Year Announced For NCAA Division III Outdoor T&F

NEW ORLEANS — Following the 2016 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships this past weekend in Waverly, Iowa, 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 Josh Buchholtz of UW-La Crosse and Chris Schumacher of Illinois Wesleyan were named the Men’s and Women’s Coaches of the Year, respectively.

Occidental’s Tyler Yamaguchi and were named the 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

JOSH BUCHHOLTZ, UW-LA CROSSE

Buchholtz, in his eighth season leading the Eagles, coached them to the NCAA Division III team title with 41 points. UW-La Crosse wrapped up the championship with a win in the 4×400 relay and had top-3 scorers in the 100, 800 and 4×100 relay. UW-La Crosse also won the WIAC Championships in early May.

WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

CHRIS SCHUMACHER, ILLINOIS WESLEYAN

Schumacher, in his 19th season leading the Titans, guided them to the NCAA Division III team title with 42 points. IWU edged Baldwin Wallace by one point and Washington (Mo.) by three points. The Titans had individual champions in the high jump and long jump and top-3 scorers in the 100, triple jump and heptathlon.

MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

TYLER YAMAGUCHI, OCCIDENTAL

Yamaguchi, in his ninth year coaching sprints and hurdles at Occidental, guided Hugh Pegan to an NCAA Division III national title at 200 meters (21.59). He also coached athletes to a fourth-place finish at 400 meters and a fifth-place 4×400 relay showing. During the regular season, he led his athletes to a 93-point haul at the SCIAC Championships. Those points included wins in the 100, 200, 400, 400 hurdles and the 4×400 relay.

WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

MILES KETCHUM, WPI

Ketchum, in his fourth year coaching sprints, hurdles and relays at WPI, mentored Liz Pellegrini to a national runner-up finish in the NCAA Division III 400-meter hurdles final. During the regular season, he had a group that scored 81 of the team’s record 174 points at the NEWMAC meet for runner-up honors. He helped produce conference champions in three events as well as several other all-conference performers.