2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Each of the eight regions – Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, 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 DII Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 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

ATLANTIC REGION – Kendall Branan – Indiana (Pa.)

Branan, who hails from Indiana, Pennsylvania, finished seventh in the 800 meters at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He entered the NCAA meet ranked 15th nationally in the event thanks to a 1:50.22 effort in mid-February at the Penn State Tune-Up.

CENTRAL REGION – Cordell Tinch – Pittsburg State

Tinch, who hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin, rewrote the NCAA DII record book – and then some – during the 2023 indoor season. He shattered the divisional record in the 60-meter hurdles when he ran 7.50 at the Gorilla Classic in mid-February. That also made Tinch the seventh-fastest performer in collegiate history. Tinch wasn’t done there, as he ran 7.52 or faster three different times, including a 7.51 winner at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. All told, Tinch owns seven of the top-10 marks in NCAA DII history.

EAST REGION – Jonathan Volpe – Southern Connecticut

Volpe, who hails from Naugatuck, Connecticut, contributed 18 points to Southern Connecticut’s team title at the Northeast-10 Indoor Championships. He won the 800 meters and took second in the mile with a PR of 4:07.73 in the latter. Volpe also took top individual honors in the 1000 meters at the All-Division New England (NEICAAA) Indoor Championships.

MIDWEST REGION – Zach Kreft – Walsh

Kreft, who hails from Sunbury, Ohio, doubled up on fourth-place finishes in distance events at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He placed in the top half of the 5000 meters on Day 1 at 14:01.37 and then again in the 3000 meters at 8:02.34. Just a few weeks earlier, Kreft won both of those events at the G-MAC Indoor Championships and was named Track Athlete of the Meet for his efforts. Kreft set school records in the mile, 3000 and 5000 this season.

SOUTH REGION – Michael Gizzi – Alabama-Huntsville

Gizzi, who hails from Covington, Georgia, earned First-Team All-America honors in both the 60 meters and 200 meters at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He placed fifth in the 200 in a school-record 20.01 and went 6.75 in the 60 for sixth place. During the regular season, he won both of those events at the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championships and was named Indoor Track Athlete of the Year for his efforts.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Miguel Coca – Adams State

Coca, who hails from Las Vegas, New Mexico, scored 18 points at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships thanks to a victory in the mile at 4:07.17 and a runner-up effort in the 3000 meters at 8:01.81. The RMAC mile champion entered the NCAA meet ranked first nationally in the mile and second nationally in the 3000.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Hamza Chahid – Wingate

Chahid, who hails from Mrirt, Morocco, won the 3000 meters and anchored the winning DMR at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He started the weekend off with a 4:00.40 tote in the DMR before returning the following afternoon to break the tape in the 3000 at PR 8:00.35. Chahid won both the mile and 3000 at the SAC Indoor Championships to help lead Wingate to a team title.

WEST REGION – Duncan Agyemang – Academy of Art

Agyemang, who hails from Kusami, Ghana, finished fourth in the 400 meters at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships and later helped Academy of Art to runner-up honors in the 4×400. He went 47.35 in the open 400 and then split 46.71 for the Urban Knights’ relay squad. 

Men’s Field Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Ralph Casper – West Chester

Casper, who hails from York, Pennsylvania, finished runner-up and received First-Team All-America honors in the shot put at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a PR heave of 19.59m (64-3¼). His best throw in Virginia Beach, Virginia, also extended his own conference record. Casper entered the meet undefeated in the shot put and scored 18 points at the PSAC Indoor Championships thanks to a victory in the shot put and a runner-up effort in the weight throw, where he set a seasonal best.

CENTRAL REGION – L.J. Kiner – Pittsburg State

Kiner, who hails from Humble, Texas, won the long jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a meet-record leap of 8.04m (26-4½) that made him the No. 3 performer in divisional history. Just a few weeks earlier, Kiner topped the podium in the same event at the MIAA Indoor Championships and placed third in the triple jump.

EAST REGION – Nishorn Pierre – Holy Family (Pa.)

Pierre, who hails from Grenada, entered the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships ranked fifth nationally in the high jump at 2.18m (7-1¾). He earned First-Team All-America honors when he tied for eighth. Pierre, who scored 28 points at the ECC Indoor Championships, ended the regular season ranked among the region’s top-3 athletes in the high jump, long jump and triple jump.

MIDWEST REGION – Myles Kerner – Grand Valley State

Kerner, who hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan, won the shot put crown at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a PR heave of 19.71m (64-8). That mark also took down the Virginia Beach Sports Center facility record. Just a few weeks earlier, Kerner topped the same podium at the GLIAC Indoor Championships and broke the conference record in the process.

SOUTH REGION – Al Ferrill – Mississippi College

Ferrill, who hails from Tickfaw, Louisiana, was named the Gulf South Conference (GSC) Field Athlete of the Year after winning both the shot put and weight throw at the conference meet. He ended the season ranked atop the regional chart in both throws.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Thomas Nieto – Texas A&M-Kingsville

Nieto, who hails from Ibaque, Columbia, finished third in the pole vault at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a mark of 5.30m (17-4½). Just a few weeks earlier, Nieto cleared a PR height of 5.43m (17-9¾) to win the event at the Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships and move up to No. 5 on the NCAA DII all-time chart.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Jacob Wadsworth – Lenoir-Rhyne

Wadsworth, who hails from Dansville, New York, finished fourth in the heptathlon at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a PR total of 5475 points. During the regular season, he was named the SAC Field Athlete of the Year after winning the long jump – with a PR 7.44m (24-5) – and placing fourth in the high jump at the conference championships.

WEST REGION – Aaron Worrell – Azusa Pacific

Worrell, who hails from Christ Church, Barbados, finished runner-up in the heptathlon at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a PR total of 5604 points. He improved his PR by more than 200 points at the NCAA meet and cracked the NCAA DII all-time top-10 as well.

Men’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Dave Osanitsch – Shippensburg

Osanitsch, in his 18th year as head coach at Shippensburg, led the Red Raiders to the team title at the PSAC Indoor Championships. Shippensburg won six events at conference and finished the season with 21 performances ranked in the top-10 in the Atlantic Region, including top-5 performances in 10 events. He was the primary instructor for heptathlete Mason Boyd, who PRed in all seven events to win the PSAC title with an all-time PSAC record.

CENTRAL REGION – Kyle Rutledge – Pittsburg State

Rutledge, in his 11th year as head coach at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to the team title at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with 86 points – more than double the total of the runner-up – in tallying five event winners and 12 First Team All-America awards. His hurdlers are now three of the four fastest in DII history, led by Cordell Tinch’s record of 7.50. The Gorillas also won the team title at the MIAA Indoor Championships with a meet record of 208.5 points.

EAST REGION – John Wallin – Southern Connecticut

Wallin, in his 13th year as head coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Fighting Owls to the team title at the Northeast-10 Indoor Championships with 230 points, winning by 113 points. His top shot putter, Cameron Belton, won the NE10 title and qualified for the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning Second Team All-America honors, and heptathlete Shane Smith set an NE10 record with his score of 4847 points.

MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State

Baltes, in his 24th year as head coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to a third-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with 29 points, including the shot put title won by Myles Kerner as the team earned 11 First Team All-America honors. GVSU won the team title at the GLIAC Indoor Championships with 300 points to win by 202 points in claiming 12 event titles.

SOUTH REGION – Matthew Reneker – Mississippi College

Reneker, in his third year as head coach at Mississippi College, led the Choctaws to four First-Team and three Second-Team All-America awards at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. Mississippi College won the team title at the GSC Indoor Championships with 195 points, winning eight events. The Choctaws broke school records 34 times this year in earning 43 All-South Region honors.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Matthew Stewart – West Texas A&M

Stewart, in his sixth year as director of track & field/cross country at West Texas A&M, led the Buffaloes to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning 12 First Team or Second Team All-America awards. He was voted LSC Conference Coach of the Year after West Texas A&M won the team title 68.5 points as the Buffaloes collected 19 All-LSC awards.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Kevin Paterson – Lenoir-Rhyne

Paterson, in his fourth year as head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, led the Bears to a seventh-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning seven First Team All-America awards. He was voted SAC Coach of the Year as the Bears finished as team runner-up and won six events. Six of the Lenoir-Rhyne events were top-15 in #EventSquad Rankings, topped by No. 2 ratings in the 200 meters and heptathlon.

WEST REGION – Kevin LaSure – Academy of Art

LaSure, in his eighth year as director of track & field/cross country, led the Urban Knights to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning seven First Team All-America awards. Academy of Art qualified nine athletes in six events for the nationals, finishing as runner-up in three events – 400 meters, triple jump and 4×400 relay. The Urban Knights set school records in the 60-meter hurdles and 4×400.

Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Steve Spence – Shippensburg

Spence, in his 22nd year as assistant coach at Shippensburg, coached Red Raider distance runners to 76 points in five events as nine runners scored at the PSAC Indoor Championships. His crew was led by Drew Dailey, who set an all-time PSAC record of 1:49.49 in the 800, and Ian Sherlock, who earned PSAC Championships Outstanding Track Athlete honors.

CENTRAL REGION – Jesse Miller – Pittsburg State

Miller, in his first year as assistant coach at Pittsburg State, coached Gorilla jumpers to three titles at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships – Cordell Tinch in the high jump, Henry Kiner in the long jump and Treyvon Ferguson in the triple jump – in accounting for 30 of the team’s 86 points to win the team title. His jumpers also dominated the MIAA Indoor Championships, sweeping the HJ/LJ/TJ in scoring 37 points.

EAST REGION – Kadedra Best – Holy Family (Pa.)

Best, in her third year as assistant coach at Holy Family (Pa.), coached Tiger athletes to two qualifiers to the the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning First Team All-America honors in the high jump. Her hurdlers and jumpers combined for 84 points of the 143 points that Holy Family achieved in winning the team title at the ECC Indoor Championships for the first time in school history.

MIDWEST REGION – Steve Jones – Grand Valley State

Jones, in his 15th year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, coached Laker high jumpers to two First Team All-America awards, finishing third and sixth at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His jumpers went 1-2-3 in the high jump at the GLIAC Indoor Championships and rank 1-2 in the Midwest Region.

SOUTH REGION – Lane Fletcher – Lee (Tenn.)

Fletcher, in his first year as associate head coach at Lee (Tenn.), coached Cale Kassen to a fourth-place finish in 60-meter hurdles at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning First Team All-America honors. Fletcher’s ability to coach many events was evident as his athletes earned 11 All-South Region awards in the 60, 200, 400, 60 hurdles, high jump, long jump, heptathlon and 4×400 relay.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Mark Misch – UC-Colorado Springs

Misch, in his 16th year as assistant coach at UC-Colorado Springs, coached three Mountain Lion distance runners to First Team All-America awards at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His athletes scored 31 points at the RMAC Indoor Championships, led by Evan Graff, who earned RMAC Track Athlete of the Year honors. Graff was joined by Afewerki Zeru and the UCCS distance medley relay team in earning All-South Central Region awards.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Seandell Davis – Lenoir-Rhyne

Davis, in his fourth year as associate head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, coached Bear sprinters to runner-up finishes in the 60 and 200 meters at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships in earning three First Team All-America awards. His athletes, which includes the jumps and combined events, won four event titles at the SAC Indoor Championships – 200, long jump, heptathlon and 4×400 relay.

WEST REGION – Nkosinza Balumbu – Academy of Art

Balumbu, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Academy of Art, coached Urban Knight jumpers to a runner-up finish in the triple jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. Yacouba Gnacko was joined by fourth-placer Mathieu Tshani in earning First Team All-America honors in the event for Academy of Art.

Women’s Track Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Divonne Franklin – California (Pa.)

Franklin, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, finished top-5 in two events at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships: second in the 60 meters with a PR 7.27; fourth in the 200 meters with a PR 23.49. Just a few weeks earlier, Franklin swept the short sprints at the PSAC Indoor Championships and set meet records in both with her previous PRs.

CENTRAL REGION – Lindsay Cunningham – Winona State

Cunningham, who hails from Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, left her mark on the NCAA DII record book at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. It was in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she won the 5000 meters going away in 15:41.30 to shatter the meet record and clock the fastest mark on a record-legal track in NCAA DII history. Then, Cunningham finished fourth in the 3000 meters in 9:10.46, which made her the fifth-fastest performer in NCAA DII history.

EAST REGION – Katherine Marsh – Adelphi

Marsh, who hails from East Meadow, New York, scored 24.5 points at the Northeast-10 Indoor Championships after winning the 800 meters, anchoring a pair of winning relays (DMR and 4×800) and carrying the baton third on the runner-up 4×400. She posted the third-fastest time in the 800 on the NCAA DII Descending Order List during the regular season.

MIDWEST REGION – Natalie Graber – Grand Valley State

Graber, who hails from Loogootee, Indiana, etched her name into the NCAA DII record book twice at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. First, Graber anchored the title-winning and record-breaking DMR in 4:39.52. Next, Graber finished third in the 3000 meters in 9:09.42, which made her the No. 4 performer in NCAA DII history. Graber was also named GLIAC Track Athlete of the Year after taking down the 3000-meter meet record just a few weeks earlier.

SOUTH REGION – Kelechi Christian – Mississippi College

Christian, who hails from Lagos, Nigeria, broke every Mississippi College school record from the 60 meters to the 400 meters, including the 4×400 relay this season. Her final record came at the Gulf South Conference (GSC) Indoor Championships when she won the 400 in 56.47.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Brianna Robles – Adams State

Robles, who hails from Alamosa, Colorado, finished runner-up in both the 3000 meters and 5000 meters at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. Her time in the 3000 of 9:06.72 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center made her the second-fastest performer in NCAA DII history. Earlier in the season, Robles set a since-broken divisional record in the 5000 when she ran 15:47.88 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in mid-February.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Alexis Brown – Lenoir-Rhyne

Brown, who hails from Mableton, Georgia, set an NCAA DII record in the 200 meters of 23.26 in winning the event title at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. During the same meet, she also finished fourth in the 60 meters at 7.36. Earlier in the season, though, Brown moved up to No. 7 in NCAA DII history in the 60 when she ran 7.25 at the SAC Indoor Championships.

WEST REGION – Vanessa Aniteye – Seattle Pacific

Aniteye, who hails from Eagle River, Alaska, capped an undefeated season over 800 meters when she won the event title at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. She saved the best for last, because she set a PR and school record of 2:06.84 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Women’s Field Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – M’Smrya Seward – Fayetteville State

Seward, who hails from Youngsville, North Carolina, finished fifth in the long jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. That came just weeks after she scored 28 points at the CIAA Indoor Championships with a sweep of the horizontal jumps and a runner-up showing in the high jump. Seward was named the CIAA Most Valuable Field Athlete of the Meet.

CENTRAL REGION – Kayla Goodwin – Central Missouri

Goodwin, who hails from Hamilton, New Zealand, finished runner-up in the pentathlon with a PR total of 4018 points at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. That wasn’t all that she did in Virginia Beach, Virginia, as she also placed third in the long jump with a PR of 12.84m (42-1½) and eighth in the long jump at 5.89m (19-4). Earlier in the season, Goodwin earned MIAA Women’s Indoor High Point honors after winning both the pentathlon and long jump and taking second in the triple jump at the conference championships. 

EAST REGION – Kyria Moore – Adelphi

Moore, who hails from Amityville, New York, finished runner-up in the weight throw at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a mark of 20.08m (65-10½). She was the top seed going into the NCAA meet with a PR heave of 20.81m (68-3¼) from the Fastrack Last Chance.  

MIDWEST REGION – Trista Fintel – Findlay

Fintel, who hails from Deshler, Ohio, won the shot put title at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a PR heave of 16.04m (52-7½). Just a few weeks earlier, Fintel took top honors in the event at the G-MAC Indoor Championships. 

SOUTH REGION – Mikaela Miles – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)

Miles, who hails from San Diego, California, improved her triple jump in every meet this past season and ended the year with 18 of the top-20 marks in program history, which included her best of 12.12m (39-9¼). She was the highest finisher from the South Region in the triple jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Taylor Nelloms – West Texas A&M

Nelloms, who hails from Humble, Texas, earned First-Team All-America honors in three jumping events at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships: second place in both the high jump and triple jump; seventh place in the long jump. She set a PR in the triple jump of 12.95m (42-6) at the NCAA Championships. Scoring big points wasn’t new territory for Nelloms, as she amassed 28 points at the Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships after winning both the high jump and triple jump, in addition to a runner-up effort in the long jump.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Moena Battle – Wingate

Battle, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia, finished third in the high jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships when she tied a PR of 1.75m (5-8¾). She won two of three meets prior to the NCAA Championships, including a victory at the SAC Indoor Championships.

WEST REGION – Nicole Warwick – Azusa Pacific

Warwick, who hails from Modesto, California, won the pentathlon at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a PR score of 4066 points that lists her seventh on the divisional all-time chart. She wasn’t done with PRs, as she also PR’d in the long jump at 6.05m (19-10¼) to place third in that event. Warwick was the seventh seed in the long jump going into the meet.  

Women’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Dave Osanitsch – Shippensburg

Ostanitsch, in his 18th year at Shippensburg, led the Raiders to the team title at the PSAC Indoor Championships – their first since 2018 – thanks to three event champions and scoring in 14 of 17 events. Shippensburg posted 17 efforts among the Atlantic Region’s top-10 this season, including second-best marks in the 200 meters, long jump and the pentathlon. 

CENTRAL REGION – Mike Turgeon – Minnesota State

Turgeon, in his sixth year at Minnesota State, led the Mavericks to a runner-up finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships behind a pair of national champions – Denisha Cartwright in the 60-meter hurdles and Makayla Jackson the 60 – and scorers in eight different events. Just a few weeks before that, Minnesota State won the team title at the NSIC Indoor Championships with 216.5 points thanks to seven event champions and numerous other scorers.

EAST REGION – Katie Rees – Adelphi

Rees, in her 13th year at Adelphi, coached three different athletes to qualify for the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with top-5 marks: Kyria Moore, who was national leader in the weight throw; Katherine Marsh and Isabel Marsh, who were No. 4 and No. 5 in the 800 meters, respectively. During the regular season, Rees oversaw a strong effort at the Northeast-10 Indoor Championships, where the squad finished third with multiple scorers in a plethora of events.

MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State

Baltes, in his 24th year at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to a sixth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with 35 points. GVSU’s efforts at NCAAs were highlighted by an NCAA DII record in the distance medley relay and top-5 scorers in five different events. Just a few weeks earlier, the Lakers captured the team title at the GLIAC Indoor Championships with 237 points thanks to ten individual conference titles and sweeps of the 3000 meters, shot put and weight throw – which accounted for 77 points from just those three events.

SOUTH REGION – Caleb Morgan – Lee (Tenn.)

Morgan, in his 10th year at Lee (Tenn.), led the Flames to a dominant effort at the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championships, where they scored 220 points for a 92-point margin of victory. Lee (Tenn.) was the top-ranked team in the South Region all season and the only team from the region to score points at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Damon Martin – Adams State

Martin, in his 24th year at Adams State, led the Grizzlies to the team title at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with 52 points. Martin’s prized pupil Stephanie Cotter scored 22 points by herself with a sweep of the mile and 3000-meter crowns and a leg on the runner-up distance medley relay. Cotter demolished both the NCAA DII record and the meet record with her winning effort in the 3000 of 9:06.03. Adams State had nine First-Team All-America athletes and four Second-Team honorees in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Kevin Paterson – Lenoir-Rhyne

Patterson, in his fourth year at Lenoir-Rhyne, led the Bears to a top-15 finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, where they had three First-Team All-Americans. Most notably, Alexis Brown won the 200-meter crown and set an NCAA DII record in the process of 23.26. Patterson was named the SAC Indoor Coach of the Year after leading his team to a runner-up finish at the SAC Indoor Championships behind five event champions who set three meet records.

WEST REGION – Jack Hoyt – Azusa Pacific

Hoyt, in his sixth year at Azusa Pacific, led the Cougars to a podium finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. APU took fourth place after every athlete it entered finished at or above their entry rank, including a national title in the pentathlon by Nicole Warwick. The Cougars also had third-place finishers in the 60-meter hurdles and long jump.

Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Sandra Estep – California (Pa.)

Estep, in her eighth year as assistant coach at California (Pa.), coached Divonne Franklin to a runner-up finish in the 60 meters at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning two First Team All-America finishes when adding a fourth in the 200. Franklin set all-time PSAC Indoor Championships records in the 60 and 200, and Estep’s Vulcan athletes in the sprints, hurdles and relays earned All-PSAC honors in the 60, 200, 60 hurdles and 4×400 relay.

CENTRAL REGION – John Hibshman – Winona State

Hibshman, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Winona State, coached two Warrior distance runners to three First Team All-America awards at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His prize pupil, Lindsay Cunningham, set an all-time DII record in the 5000 meters (15:41.30) and finished fourth in the 3000. Another of his athletes, Kaylee Beyer, was fourth in the mile. Cunningham and Beyer also won titles at the NSIC Indoor Championships.

EAST REGION – Adriana Carrasco – Southern Connecticut

Carrasco, in her second year as assistant coach at Southern Connecticut, coached Fighting Owl athletes to win Northeast-10 Indoor Conference titles in five events – 60, 200, long jump, triple jump and 4×400 relay. In addition, her sprinters, hurdlers and relays claimed three second-place and four third-place NE10 finishes. 

MIDWEST REGION – Matt Conly – Grand Valley State

Conly, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, coached four Laker throwers to First Team or Second Team All-America honors at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His athletes won both the shot put and weight throw at the GLIAC Indoor Championships and accumulated 53 points. Six of his throwers rank among the top-10 in the Midwest Region, with two among the top-2 nationally. 

SOUTH REGION – Lane Fletcher – Lee (Tenn.)

Fletcher, in his first year as associate head coach at Lee (Tenn.), coach Flame athletes to account for 102.5 points of the 220.5 that Lee achieved in winning the GSC Indoor Championships. His athletes earned 11 All-South Region honors and set school records in four events – 60, 200, long jump and 4×400 relay.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Jocelyn Sparks – Colo. School of Mines

Sparks, in her 10th year as assistant coach at Colorado School of Mines, coached two Oredigger pole vaulters to All-America status at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, led by national champion Hannah Miller. Her crew – ranked No. 1 in #EventSquad Rankings – swept the first five places at the RMAC Indoor Championships.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Seandell Davis – Lenoir-Rhyne

Davis, in his fourth year as associate head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, coached three Bear athletes to First Team All-America honors at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, including the national champion and DII recordsetter Alexis Brown in the 200 meters. His athletes scored 89 points at the SAC Indoor Championships, winning four event titles – 60, 200, triple jump and pentathlon.

WEST REGION – Andrea Blackett – Azusa Pacific

Blackett, in her sixth year as associate head coach at Azusa Pacific, coached Cougar athletes to five scoring positions as Azusa Pacific finished fourth at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. Her sprinters and hurdlers claimed third in the 60 hurdles, fifth in the 4×400 relay and sixth in the 400, and she assisted Cougar pentathletes Nicole Warwick and Alysa Henry, who went 1-3.