Award History
NCAA DI OTF National Awards2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Member coaches voted on these honors following the conclusion of 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, but considered performances throughout the season when voting on these honors.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Ky Robinson was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season. Robinson, who hails from Brisbane, Australia, became the first athlete since Edward Cheserek in 2016 to win both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Robinson clocked seasonal bests of 13:22.29 and 28:54.74 in those events, respectively, and finished second in the 1500 meters at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championships.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Julien Alfred was named the National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season. Alfred, who hails from Castries, St. Lucia, capped a record-breaking, undefeated season at the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where she won the 100, 200 and led off the winning 4×100 relay. Her wind-aided mark in the 100-meter final of 10.72 equaled the fastest all-conditions effort in collegiate history, while her wind-aided mark in the 200 of 21.73 is the fastest all-conditions time in collegiate history. Alfred ran the opening leg of a Texas 4×100 relay that obliterated the collegiate record twice this season, ultimately to 41.55 in Austin.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Leo Neugebauer was named the Men’s co-National Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season. Neugebauer, who hails from Leinfelde-Echterdingen, Germany, obliterated the collegiate record in the decathlon at the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships when he amassed 8836 points. Not only did he set a collegiate record, Neugebauer became the eighth-best performer in world history and took down the German national record. Earlier in the season, he won the decathlon at the Texas Relays with a then-PR score of 8478 points.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Jaydon Hibbert was named the Men’s co-National Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season. Hibbert, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, capped an undefeated season in the triple jump with a victory at the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He bounded 17.56m (57-7½) to record the fourth-farthest mark in collegiate history. That was his second-best effort of the season, because earlier at the SEC Outdoor Championships, he shattered the collegiate record – and set an all-time World U20 outdoor best – with his majestic 17.87m (58-7½) PR.
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Jasmine Moore was named the Women’s National Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season. Moore, who hails from Grand Prairie, Texas, shattered the collegiate record to win the triple jump at the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She bounded 14.78m (48-6) to take down a five-year-old standard set by 2018 The Bowerman winner Keturah Orji. Moore also finished third in the long jump at 6.66m (21-10¼). Earlier in the season, Moore won both the long jump and triple jump at the SEC Outdoor Championships.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Mike Holloway was named the National Men’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season. Holloway, in his 21st year as head coach at Florida, led the Gators to the team title at the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 57 points. His 4×400 team set the collegiate record at the SEC Outdoor Championships (2:57.76) and then lowered it at the NCAA DI Championships (2:57.74). He coached Emmanuel Bamidele to the 400-meter title with a school record 44.24, the fastest collegiate time of the year. Florida also finished sixth at the SEC Outdoor Championships, winning three events.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Edrick Floréal was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season. Floréal, in his fifth year as head coach at Texas, led the Longhorns to the team title at the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 83 points while winning five events. His relay teams set collegiate records in three events this year – 4×100 (three times), 4×200 and sprint medley, all with national champions Julien Alfred (100 and 200) and Rhasidat Adeleke (400). Texas also won the team title at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, winning eight events.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Travis Geopfert was named the National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season. Geopfert, in his 11th year as associate head coach at Arkansas, coached three Razorbacks to win or finish second at the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoors Track & Field Championships: Jaydon Hibbert winning the triple jump at 17.56m (57-7½); Carey McLeod winning the long jump at 8.26m (27-1¼); and Wayne Pinnock with a leap of 8.15m (26-9) to take second place in the long jump. Hibbert’s mark was the No. 3 performance in collegiate history as he set the collegiate record of 17.87m (58-7½) earlier in winning the SEC Outdoor Championships. His athletes scored 31 of the Razorbacks’ 53 points at the NCAA DI Championships and 69 of the team’s 149 points at the SEC Championships.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Chris Johnson was named the National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season. Johnson, in his 12th year as associate head coach at Arkansas, coached Razorback athletes to account for 45 of the 46 points that Arkansas scored to finish third at the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His sprint/hurdle crew won two events – 100-meter hurdles and 4×400 relay. Ackera Nugent clocked a wind-aided 12.25 to win the hurdles races with the fastest time ever recorded by a collegian under all conditions. The Razorback 4×400 squad won by over two seconds in 3:24.05. His deep 400-meter squad finished 2-3-4 in the 400 meters, led by Britton Wilson, who set the collegiate records three times in the event this year and won an impressive 400/400 hurdles double at the SEC Outdoor Championships (49.13 CR/53.23, the latter the fastest time by a collegian this year by over a second).