Award History
NAIA ITF National Awards2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
These awards were voted on by USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Brookings, South Dakota, based off performances at that meet, as well as throughout the rest of the season.
Only athletes and coaches from member institutions are eligible to win awards.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Senzo Sokhela was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season. Sokhela, who hails from Pietermaritzberg, South Africa, capped a strong campaign at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships by winning the 1000 meters in 2:25.42 and finishing runner-up in the mile at 4:08.53. He ran a PB 2:25.62 in the prelims of the 1000 before improving that by 0.20 seconds in the final. Sokhela was undefeated this season over 400 meters, 600 meters and 1000 meters.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Addy Wiley was named the National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season. Wiley, who hails from Huntington, Indiana, was a force at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships and throughout the regular season. It was in Brookings, South Dakota, where Wiley won four individual titles and anchored a winning relay team, all within the span of four hours. Wiley topped podiums following the mile, 600 meters, 800 meters and 3000 meters, while also sending the Foresters to victory in the DMR. All told, Wiley scored 42.5 points by herself in the Mount Rushmore State. During the regular season, Wiley set best-known NAIA records or all-time bests in four different events.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Dylan Kucera was named the National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season. Kucera, who hails from Fremont, Nebraska, dominated the shot put circle this indoor season like no other. By the time the regular season ended, Kucera registered each of 21 best throws in the nation, including his season best of 18.68m (61-3½). He wasn’t done there – not by a long shot. Kucera won the event title – his fourth in a row – at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships with a massive PR heave of 19.17m (62-10¾). Kucera also placed second in the weight throw in Brookings, South Dakota, with a PR of 20.35m (66-9¼).
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Juanita Webster-Freeman was named the National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season. Webster-Freeman, who hails from Redlands, California, dominated the field events all season long. Her prowess culminated in a record-breaking pentathlon at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, where she scored 4258 points to shatter both the meet record and national record held by Akela Jones. Webster-Freeman wasn’t done there, though. The California native also finished third in the shot put and fourth in both the high jump and long jump to give Indiana Tech more than 30 team points.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Nick Dodson was named the National Men’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season. Dodson, in his fifth year at Southeastern (Fla.), led the Fire to the team title at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Brookings, South Dakota. SEU athletes scored in six different events, including a trio of top-8 finishers in the 60-meter hurdles. Most importantly, the Fire earned ten points in the meet-ending 4×400 relay, which sent them to their first indoor title in program history. SEU was ranked No. 1 in the National TFRI all season long and entered the NAIA Championships following a dominant victory at the Sun Conference Indoor Championships, where it scored 282 points behind 11 event champions.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Doug Edgar was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season. Edgar, in his 13th year at Indiana Tech, led the Warriors to a dominating effort at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Brookings, South Dakota. No one could keep up with Indiana Tech, as the team got off to a historic start on Day 1 thanks to Juanita Webster-Freeman’s record-breaking pentathlon and then poured it on the rest of the way. The Warriors amassed 85 points in the Mount Rushmore State and scored in 13 different events. During the regular season, Edgar guided Indiana Tech to the team title at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Indoor Championships and a continuous No. 1 ranking.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Nate Wolf was named the National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season. Wolf, in his ninth year as assistant coach at Dordt (Iowa), saw his middle distance/distance athletes score 33 of the Defenders’ 38.6 points at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Brookings, South Dakota. Dordt (Iowa) athletes took second in both the 3000 meters and 5000 meters, 3-6 in the 600 meters and finished third in the 4×800 relay. The Defenders were equally as dominant during the regular season, where they won seven titles at the GPAC Indoor Championships and rated top-10 across the board in the #EventSquad Rankings.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Malcolm Dias was named the National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season. Dias, in his seventh year as assistant coach at William Carey (Miss.), oversaw a dynamic group of sprinters and hurdles that scored 26 of the Crusaders’ 58 points at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships. That included a national title in the 60-meter hurdles by Salieci Myles, who clocked a PR 8.20. During the regular season, Dias’ charges dotted the top of the Descending Order List, including the top-2 hurdlers in the nation.