Award History
NCAA DI ITF Regional Awards2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the nine regions – Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both gender’s top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Jackson Sharp – Wisconsin
Sharp, who hails from Wentworth Falls, Australia, finished third at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in the 3000 meters and led off the third-place DMR. During the regular season, Sharp was undefeated in everything from the mile to 5k and won both the 3000 and 5000 at the Big Ten Indoor Championships. Sharp also anchored Wisconsin’s DMR that clocked the No. 5 mark on the all-time, all-conditions collegiate chart.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Handal Roban – Penn State
Roban, who hails from Byera, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, placed third at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in the 800 in 1:47.28, just a few weeks after finishing runner-up at the Big Ten Indoor Championships. He set a PR of 1:47.01 at the Sykes-Sabok Challenge Cup in early February and clocked 1:16.91 over 600 meters at the Penn State National Open.
MIDWEST REGION – Fouad Messaoudi – Oklahoma State
Messaoudi, who hails from Oujda, Morocco, won the 3000 meters and ran the opening leg of the winning DMR at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. During the regular season, he helped Oklahoma State shatter the collegiate record – and all-time world best – in the DMR with an 800-meter tote of 1:49.21. Messaoudi went 9-1 in finals this season with his only loss coming at the Big 12 Indoor Championships in the 3000, an event he later won the national title.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Terrence Jones – Texas Tech
Jones, who hails from Freeport, Bahamas, only raced four times this season, but made history just about every time he stepped on the track. In winning the 60-meter crown at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships, Jones equaled the second-fastest mark in collegiate history of 6.46. That was the second time this season that Jones clocked 6.46 – the first coming in the prelims of the Big 12 Indoor Championships. Then in the final of the conference meet, Jones went 6.48.
NORTHEAST REGION – Jaheem Hayles – Syracuse
Hayles, who hails from Newark, New Jersey, finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in 7.61. He hit his stride when it mattered, setting PRs in three consecutive meets to end the season: 7.68 in the final of the ACC Indoor Championships, 7.63 in the NCAA prelims and then 7.61 to earn First-Team All-America honors.
SOUTH REGION – Dylan Jacobs – Tennessee
Jacobs, who hails from Orland Park, Illinois, turned in historic marks three times this season. The first came at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic when he went 13:11.01 over 5000 meters to become the third-fastest athlete in collegiate history. Two weeks later, he narrowly missed the collegiate record in the 3000 meters by 0.47 seconds when he stopped the clock at 7:36.89. Ultimately, Jacobs won the 5000-meter title at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in 13:37.59, which was the fastest time ever recorded by a collegian indoors at altitude. He later finished sixth in the 3000 at NCAAs in 7:52.25.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Yusuf Bizimana – Texas
Bizimana, who hails from London, England, won the 800-meter crown at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in 1:46.02 PR. He entered the NCAA meet with the nation’s top seed at 1:46.62, a mark he ran on the same track inside the Albuquerque Convention Center.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Jordan Anthony – Kentucky
Anthony, who hails from Tylertown, Mississippi, went sub-6.60 in the 60 meters five times this season, culminating in a 6.55 runner-up effort at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. He PR’d in the prelims of the NCAA Championships, clocking a mark of 6.54.
WEST REGION – Luke Houser – Washington
Houser, who hails from Woodinville, Washington, won the mile at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in 4:03.33. He entered the meet ranked sixth nationally in the event at 3:52.87, which made him the seventh-fastest performer in collegiate history.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Trevor Stephenson – Michigan State
Stephenson, who hails from Caledonia, Michigan, finished fourth in the pole vault at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships at 5.65m (18-6¾). The runner-up at the Big Ten Indoor Championships PR’d three times at NCAAs with first-attempt clearances on two of those bars.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Sondre Guttormsen – Princeton
Guttormsen, who hails from Ski, Norway, tied the collegiate record in the pole vault of 6.00m (19-8¼) to win the event title at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. He notched three all-time top-11 marks on the all-time collegiate chart this season, going from No. 6 to No. 1.
MIDWEST REGION – Jonah Wilson – Nebraska
Wilson, who hails from Clovis, California, finished runner-up at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships with a PR heave of 20.91m (68-7¼). Just a few weeks earlier, Wilson won the shot put crown at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with a best mark of 20.85m (68-5).
MOUNTAIN REGION – Zach Bradford – Texas Tech
Bradford, who hails from Bloomington, Illinois, finished runner-up in the pole vault at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships with a PR of 5.91m (19-4¾). He won five of the seven meets in which he competed – the only losses coming to eventual NCAA champion and co-collegiate record-holder Sondre Guttormsen.
NORTHEAST REGION – Kenneth Ikeji – Harvard
Ikeji, who hails from London, England, won the weight throw at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships with a PR of 22.66m (74-4¼). He entered the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships ranked sixth nationally and finished with Second-Team All-America honors.
SOUTH REGION – Kyle Garland – Georgia
Garland, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, destroyed the collegiate record – and fell just six points shy of the world record – in the heptathlon to win the combined event at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. He finished with 6639 points, 140 points more than 2010 The Bowerman winner Ashton Eaton scored to win the NCAA title that season. During the regular season, Garland showed flashes of brilliance in the heptathlon when he moved up to No. 2 in collegiate history with his 6415 score at the Texas Tech Open & Multis.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Jaydon Hibbert – Arkansas
Hibbert, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, broke the collegiate record in the triple jump by more than five inches when he won the event crown at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. He bounded 17.54m (57-6½), which dwarfed the previous all-time best of 17.40m (57-1). Hibbert’s indoor best is also equal to the No. 2 mark on the absolute collegiate list, which takes in account marks that occurred both indoors and outdoors.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Owayne Owens – Virginia
Owens, who hails from Montego Bay, Jamaica, finished third in the triple jump at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in a PR 16.69m (54-9¼). He bounded 16.59m (54-5¼) on three different occasions this season with the first two coming in winning efforts.
WEST REGION – Jordan Geist – Arizona
Geist, who hails from Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, won the shot put crown at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships with a heave of 21.15m (69-4¾). He was undefeated against collegians in four meets this season and PR’d at the Lumberjack Team Challenge with a 21.48m (70-5¾) effort. Back in February, Geist finished runner-up at the USATF Indoor Championships.
Men’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Mick Byrne – Wisconsin
Byrne, in his 10th year at Wisconsin, led the Badgers to the team title at the Big Ten Indoor Championships thanks to five event champions, highlighted by Jackson Sharp’s double in the 3000 meters and 5000 meters. During the regular season, his DMR squad clocked a time of 9:19.00 which ranks No. 5 in NCAA history. Wisconsin had six events qualify for the NCAA DI Indoor Championships where they combined for 14 points, placing 16th.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Bob Hamer – Rider
Hamer, in his 18th year with Rider, guided the Broncos to the team title at the Metro Atlantic Athletic (MAAC) Indoor Championships with 207 points for a 67-point margin of victory. In addition to capturing the team title, Rider took home event crowns in the 400 meters, 800 meters, long jump, and shot put, with an additional six runner-up finishes. This season, Hamer saw his men’s squad break school records in the 800 and 4×200 relay as well as 21 new marks to the Rider All-Time Top-10 list. He was named the MAAC Coach of the Year for his efforts.
MIDWEST REGION – Dave Smith – Oklahoma State
In his 15th year with Oklahoma State, Smith led the Cowboys to their second-highest finish at the NCAA DI Indoor Championships, placing sixth with 25 points. He coached the DMR group to a collegiate record with a time of 9:16.40 at the Arkansas Qualifier. That same DMR squad, along with Fouad Messaoudi in the 3000 meters, earned NCAA titles.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Wes Kittley – Texas Tech
Kittley, in his 24th season at Texas Tech, coached the Red Raiders to a fifth place finish at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. The Red Raiders, who scored 29 points in Albuquerque, New Mexico, scored 29 points thanks to one national champion, two runner-up finishes and four First-Team All-American performances. Under his direction, the men’s team was ranked inside the top-5 of the National TFRI all season, reaching as high as No. 2. During the regular season, Texas Tech won the team title at the Big 12 Indoor Championships with 159 points.
NORTHEAST REGION – Gary Gardner – UMass Lowell
Gardner, in his 23rd year at UMass Lowell, led the River Hawks to the team title at the America East Indoor Championships with 185 points, a 54-point margin of victory. Athletes he directly coached scored 98 of those 185 points in distance events as eight men scored in two or more events. Five men went sub-4:10 in the mile and eight went sub 8:25 in the 3000 this season.
SOUTH REGION – Caryl Smith Gilbert – Georgia
Smith Gilbert, in just her second year as Director of Track & Field at Georgia, guided the Bulldogs to a runner-up finish at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. It was their highest finish in school history after scoring a program-record 40 points. UGA posted a school record of three NCAA individual titles and five-of-six six individuals and the 4×400 relay scored. The Bulldogs notched two world-leading times in the 200 meters (20.12) and the 400 meters (44.75), including a collegiate record in the heptathlon (6639 points).
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Chris Bucknam – Arkansas
Bucknam, in his 15th year at Arkansas, coached the Razorbacks to the team title at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championship with 63 points. Arkansas won three events at NCAAs – long jump, triple jump, and the 4×400 relay – and set a collegiate record in the triple jump. Thirteen of his athletes combined for 18 First-Team All-America honors and scored across nine events.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Lonnie Greene – Kentucky
Greene, in his fifth season at Kentucky, guided the Wildcats to five entries at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. Jordan Anthony took runner-up honors in the 60 meters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Anthony was one of three Kentucky athletes that scored at the NCAA meet.
WEST REGION – Andy Powell – Washington
Powell, in his fifth season at the helm of Washington, led the Huskies to their highest finish at the NCAA DI Indoor Championships, taking fourth with 31 points. Powell directly coached Luke Houser to the NCAA title in the mile and saw three additional athletes finish top-8 in the event for a total of 20 points. UW earned 10 First Team All-America honors in total.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Kareem Jackson – Wisconsin
Jackson, in his second year as associate head coach at Wisconsin, coached Lawrence Johnson to a seventh-place finish in the 60 meters at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. His Badger athletes contributed 13 points towards Wisconsin’s winning the team title at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Corey Crawford – Rutgers
Crawford, in his second year as assistant coach at Rutgers, coached two Scarlet Knight athletes to qualify for the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships: A’nan Bridgett and Sincere Robinson in the long jump. Robinson won the long jump at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Brenton Emanuel – Nebraska
Emanuel, in his second year as assistant coach at Nebraska, coached two Cornhusker athletes to qualify for the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships: Darius Luff and Brithton Senior in the 60-meter hurdles. Luff finished third at the NCAA meet and led Nebraska’s 1-2 with Senior at the Big Ten Indoor Championships. He also guided Nick Bryant to a Big Ten title in the 600 meters with a school record of 1:15.37.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Zach Glavash – Texas Tech
Glavash, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Texas Tech, coached Red Raider sprinter Terrence Jones to a 60-meter title at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. Jones ran four races this year and turned in three of the top-10 marks in collegiate history, including at the NCAA meet. Glavash’s athletes contributed 87 of the 159 points Texas Tech scored in winning the team title at the Big 12 Indoor Championships.
NORTHEAST REGION – Marc Mangiacotti – Harvard
Mangiacotti, in his 11th year as associate head coach at Harvard, coached athletes to account for 92 of the Crimson’s 163 points in finishing as runner-up at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships. His sprinters, hurdlers and horizontal jumpers won seven events at the Ivy League Championships, broke three school records and ranked No. 1 in the Northeast Region in the 4×400 relay and triple jump.
SOUTH REGION – James Thomas – Georgia
Thomas, in his second year as associate head coach at Georgia, guided Kyle Garland to a collegiate record score of 6639 points in winning the heptathlon at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. He also coached another NCAA qualifier, Johannes Erm, who was second in the heptathlon at the SEC Indoor Championships.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Travis Geopfert – Arkansas
Geopfert, in his 11th year as associate head coach at Arkansas, coached three Razorbacks to win or finish second at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships: Jaydon Hibbert with a collegiate record of 17.54m (57-6½) to win the triple jump; Carey McLeod with a jump of 8.40m (27-6 ½) to win the long jump; and Ayden Owens-Delerme with a score of 6518 points to finish second in the heptathlon. Owens-Delerme’s score is No. 2 all-time collegiately and McLeod’s mark is No. 5.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Tony Miller – Louisville
Miller, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Louisville, coached two Cardinal athletes to qualify for the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships: Cameron Miller in the 200 meters and Sterling Warner-Savage in the 60 meters. Miller finished fourth at the NCAA Championships and both set school records during the season.
WEST REGION – Joanna Hayes – Southern California
Hayes, in her fourth year as assistant coach at Southern California, coached two Trojan athletes to qualify for the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships: Tade Ojora and Johnny Brackins in the 60-meter hurdles. Ojora had the nation’s leading time of 7.53 and set a school record and Brackins tied for No. 2 on USC’s all-time list at 7.60.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Olivia Markezich – Notre Dame
Markezich, who hails from Woodinville, Washington, finished runner-up in the 3000 meters at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in 9:13.01. She also anchored the third-place DMR in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a 4:33.68 tote that was second fastest on that particular leg.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Ceili McCabe – West Virginia
McCabe, who hails from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, finished sixth in the 3000 meters at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. That came just weeks after she topped that event podium at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. McCabe ended the regular season ranked among the top-7 performers in both the mile (No. 7, 4:31.57) and 3000 (No. 4, 8:50.44).
MIDWEST REGION – Olivia Howell – Illinois
Howell, who hails from Solon, Ohio, capped an undefeated season in the mile with a winning effort at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships with a near PR of 4:34.00. The Big Ten mile champion entered the NCAA Championships with the 20th-fastest mark on the Descending Order List at 4:33.77.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Demisha Roswell – Texas Tech
Roswell, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, went 8.00 or faster in the 60-meter hurdles four times this season with the last hitting it right on the nose to finish fifth at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. During the prelims of the NCAA meet, Roswell PR’d at 7.92. Just a few weeks earlier, Roswell won the 60H at the Big 12 Indoor Championships.
NORTHEAST REGION – Maia Ramsden – Harvard
Ramsden, who hails from New Zealand, finished fifth in the mile and eighth in the 3000 meters at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. During the regular season, Ramsden was a double champion at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships and set school records in the 1000 meters (2:43.03), mile (4:30.19) and the 3000 meters (9:16.99).
SOUTH REGION – Talitha Diggs – Florida
Diggs, who hails from Saucon Valley, Pennsylvania, made headlines at the SEC Indoor Championships when she set an American record, collegiate record and cracked the world’s all-time top-10 in the 400 meters with her 50.15 scorcher. Just a few weeks later, Diggs finished third in the 400 at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships and helped Florida take sixth in the 4×400 relay. Diggs also broke the Florida school record in the 200 meters at 22.61.
co-SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Julien Alfred – Texas
Alfred, who hails from Castries, St. Lucia, rewrote the collegiate record book and nearly set two world records in the process. It was at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Alfred went 6.94 to win the 60 meters and 22.01 for the 200-meter crown, demolishing both event’s collegiate records and moving to No. 2 on each world all-time chart. Alfred, who already owned the collegiate record in the 60 going into the season, lowered it six times in 2023 from 7.05 to 7.02 to 7.00 to 6.97 to 6.96 and finally to an otherworldly 6.94.
co-SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Britton Wilson – Arkansas
WIlson, who hails from Henrico, Virginia, stormed into the collegiate record book – and ultimately, the world all-time list – at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. The Arkansas star turned two laps in 49.48 to win the 400-meter crown, set an absolute collegiate record and move up to No. 2 on the world all-time chart (which would have been a world record if it hadn’t already fallen less than one week before). Later in the meet, Wilson anchored the Razorbacks to the top of the world all-time chart and collegiate record book in the 4×400 relay at 3:21.75 (Wilson split 49.20). Earlier in the season, Wilson established a collegiate record in the 600 meters of 1:25.16 and finished runner-up at the SEC Indoor Championships in the 800 meters.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Katelyn Tuohy – NC State
Tuohy, who hails from Stony Point, New York, made quick work of the distance events this season and did things never before seen, not even by 2009 The Bowerman winner Jenny Barringer. The NC State star set a trio of collegiate records – 1500 meters (4:06.49), mile (4:24.26) and 3000 meters (8:35.20) – and completed the distance double at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. Tuohy also cracked the top-10 in collegiate history in the 5000 meters.
WEST REGION – Roisin Willis – Stanford
Willis, who hails from Stevens Point, Washington, turned eight laps into two NCAA titles at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. On the first day of the meet, Willis split 2:02.75 on the third leg of Stanford’s winning DMR and then returned the following day to capture the open 800 in 1:59.93, which is No. 2 in collegiate history. Earlier in the season, Willis originally PR’d in the 800 at 1:59.95 back in mid-February. Willis holds two of the top-3 fastest marks on the all-time collegiate indoor chart, only trailing 2021 The Bowerman winner Athing Mu.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Jadin O’Brien – Notre Dame
O’Brien, who hails from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, won the pentathlon at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships with a score of 4512 points. Just a few weeks earlier, O’Brien set a collegiate lead in the combined event in a winning effort at the ACC Indoor Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Ilse Steigenga – Pittsburgh
Steigenga, who hails from Exmorra, Netherlands, topped the Mid-Atlantic Region in both the long jump and pentathlon this season. Her best mark in the long jump of 6.55m (21-6) qualified her for the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships, where she eventually finished eighth.
MIDWEST REGION – Shelby Frank – Minnesota
Frank, who hails from Grand Forks, North Dakota, finished runner-up in the weight throw at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships with a heave of 23.42m (76-10). Just a few weeks earlier, Frank won the event crown at the Big Ten Indoor Championships thanks to a PR of 24.14m (79-2½) that made her just one of nine collegians in history to ever reach that mark.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Anne-Suzanna Fosther-Katta – Texas Tech
Foster-Katta, who hails from Paris, France, won the triple jump at the Big 12 Indoor Championships and eventually finished fifth in that event at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. It was in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she PR’d at 14.20m (46-7¼).
NORTHEAST REGION – Stephanie Ratcliffe – Harvard
Ratcliffe, who hails from Melbourne, Australia, established conference and school records in the weight throw with her 21.88m (71-9½) effort at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships. She won four of the five weight throw competitions she entered this season.
SOUTH REGION – Jasmine Moore – Florida
Moore, who hails from Grand Prairie, Texas, jumped into rarefied air this season. After a jaw-dropping performance at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships, Moore is only one of two women in world history to soar both 15.00m (49-2½) in the triple jump and 7.00m (22-11¾) under a roof. Moore eclipsed her own collegiate record in the triple jump five times in Albuquerque, New Mexico, topping out at 15.12m (49-7¼) to become the fifth-best performer in world history. Don’t forget about the long jump, where she took down 2021 The Bowerman finalist Tara Davis’ CR with her 7.03m (23-0¾) flier.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Lamara Distin – Texas A&M
Distin, who hails from Hanover, Jamaica, capped an undefeated season in the high jump with a title-winning effort at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. The Texas A&M star never had a winning mark of less than 1.90m (6-2¾). Distin moved up to No. 3 in collegiate history with her 1.97m (6-5½) clearance at the Tiger Paw Invitational in mid-February.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Rebecca Mammel – Virginia Tech
Mammal, who hails from Tecumseh, Michigan, set an ACC record in the weight throw with her 23.69m (77-8¾) heave at the Virginia Tech Challenge in mid-February. She later set a meet record in the event at the ACC Indoor Championships of 23.29m (76-5) and eventually finished seventh at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships.
WEST REGION – Allie Jones – Southern California
Jones, who hails from Santa Barbara, California, finished runner-up in the pentathlon at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships with 4440 points. During the course of the season, Jones PR’d in each of the five events in the pentathlon, including a high jump best of 1.74m (5-8¾) that ranks third on Southern California’s all-time chart.
Women’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Kevin Sullivan – Michigan
Sullivan, in his second year at the helm of Michigan, led the Wolverines to the team title at the 2023 Big Ten Indoor Championships. He saw athletes score in 14 of the 18 events with five event champions. Sullivan’s athletes set five school records this season across five events and one Canadian record in the 400 meters. In all, Michigan had four individual qualifiers to the NCAA DI National Championships as well as one relay.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – David Oliver – Howard
In his sixth year at Howard, Oliver led the Lady Bison to the team title at the MEAC Indoor Championships with 235 points, shattering the previous meet record they set last year (184 points). Oliver also led his women’s squad to its first-ever ECAC title, while having the top two point scorers at the competition. The Lady Bison picked up five gold medals at the competition, including Jessica Wright’s 52.16 meet record performance in the 400 meters. Howard finished the indoor season with three events in the top 25 of the #EventSquad Rankings.
MIDWEST REGION – Dave Smith – Oklahoma State
Smith, in his 15th season at Oklahoma State, coached the Cowgirls to their first team title at the Big 12 Indoor Championships with a school-record 146 points. He guided four Cowgirls to Big 12 titles and ushered Taylor Roe to capture the conference’s High Point Award. Roe later finished third in the 3000 meters at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships and the OSU DMR took sixth place.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Wes Kittley – Texas Tech
Kittley, in his 24th season at Texas Tech, saw four athletes qualify for the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships and bring two First-Team All-America honors back to Lubbock. The Red Raiders were ranked in the top-15 of the National TFRI all season, peaking at No. 10.
NORTHEAST REGION – Jason Saretsky – Harvard
Saretsky, in his 17th year at Harvard, led the Crimson to the team title at the Ivy League Indoor Championships. The Ivy League Coach of the Year oversaw eight event champions and saw his athletes break eight school records this season.
SOUTH REGION – Caryl Smith Gilbert – Georgia
Smith Gilbert, in just her second season at Georgia, guided the Lady Bulldogs to a fifth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships after five women combined to score 31 points. She coached a pair of true freshman sprinters – Kaila Jackson and Autumn Wilson – to total 20 points (Jackson leading a 2-4 finish in the 60; Wilson leading a 3-8 in the 200). The Bulldogs also got a third-place finish in the high jump from Elena Kulichenko and fourth-place effort from Mikeisha Welcome in the triple jump.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Lance Harter – Arkansas
Harter, in his 33rd year at Arkansas, led the Razorbacks to the team title at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships, scoring 64 points and winning four events. Arkansas also won the team title at the SEC Indoor Championships, tallying 130.5 points and winning four events as its top distance runner, Lauren Gregory, scored 21.5 points in earning high point honors.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Laurie Henes – NC State
Henes, in her fifth year at NC State, led the Wolfpack to its highest-ever finish at the NCAA DI Indoor Championships, placing sixth. Her athletes earned six First-Team All-America awards, with two coming from double champion Katelyn Tuohy, who won the 3000 and 5000 meters, and Kelsey Chmiel in the same events. Also claiming First-Team honors were Sydney Seymour in the 5000 and the Wolfpack distance medley relay team.
WEST REGION – J.J. Clark – Stanford
Clark, in his fourth year at Stanford, led the Cardinal to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships for its best finish since 2006. His athletes won titles in the distance medley relay and 800 meters. In the latter event, Roisin Willis and Juliette Whittaker went 1-2 and rate No. 2 and No. 3 on the all-time collegiate list. In addition, long jumper Alyssa Jones set an American U20 indoor record while placing fourth.
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Steve Rajewsky – Michigan
Rajewsky, in his ninth year as assistant coach at Michigan, coached three Wolverine athletes and one relay to qualify for the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. His athletes accounted for 46.5 points of Michigan’s 109 total in winning the team title at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, scoring in all of the sprint/hurdle events and setting school records in four.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Ryan Foster – Penn State
Ryan, in his second year as assistant coach at Penn State, coached athletes to contribute 48 points for the Nittany Lions at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, scoring in six events. His athletes went 1-2 in the 800 meters, and Faith DeMars won the 5000 meters and added a runner-up finish in the 3000 meters in a school record 9:00.94.
MIDWEST REGION – Peter Miller – Minnesota
Miller, in his 10th year as associate head coach at Minnesota, coached Shelby Frank to a runner-up finish in the weight throw at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. Frank won the event at the Big Ten Indoor Championships to become No. 9 all-time collegiately at 24.14m (79-2½) after earning Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week honors three times during the season.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Diljeet Taylor – BYU
Taylor, in her seventh year as associate director at BYU, coached Cougar athletes to five individual and a DMR entry to the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. The DMR team and 800-meter specialist Claire Seymour earned First Team All-America honors, while her athletes in the mile, 3000 meters and 5000 meters claimed Second-Team honors.
NORTHEAST REGION – Alex Gibby – Harvard
Gibby, in his sixth year as associate head coach at Harvard, coached Maia Ramsden to two First Team All-America honors at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. Earlier in the season, Ramsden won two events at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships as the Crimson won the team title.
SOUTH REGION – Nic Petersen – Florida
Petersen, in his 11th year as associate head coach at Florida, coached two Gator athletes to earn three First-Team All-America honors at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships: Jasmine Moore and Claire Bryant. Moore set collegiate records in winning the long jump at 7.03m (23-0¾) and triple jump at 15.12m (49-7¼), with the latter also setting an American record. Bryant was third in the long jump after completing a 1-2 Florida sweep at the SEC Indoor Championships as Moore again collected titles in the long jump and triple jump.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Chris Johnson – Arkansas
Johnson, in his 12th year as associate head coach at Arkansas, coached Razorback athletes to account for 40 of the 64 points that Arkansas scored to win the team title at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. His sprint/hurdle crew won three events – 400 meters, 60-meter hurdles and 4×400 relay. Britton Wilson set a collegiate and American record in the 400 at 49.48 and anchored the 4×400 team to a world best of 3:21.75. Ackera Nugent clocked a CR 7.72 in the prelims before winning the 60H in 7.73 in running the two fastest times in collegiate history.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Scott Houston – High Point
Houston, in his seventh year as assistant coach at High Point, coached three Panthers to qualify for the pole vault at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. His crew was led by Rachel Vesper, who earned First Team All-America honors. At the Big South Indoor Championships, his vaulters swept places 1-5 and were led by Sydney Horn.
WEST REGION – Toby Stevenson – Washington
Stevenson, in his fifth year as associate head coach at Washington, coached three Husky athletes to First Team All-America honors at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. Sara Borton and Nastassja Campbell finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the pole vault, and Ida Eikeng set a school record of 4266 points in finishing eighth in the pentathlon.