Award History
NCAA DI ITF National Awards2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor 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 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships two weeks ago in Boston, but considered performances throughout the season when voting on these honors.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Chris Johnson was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year. Johnson, in his first year as Head Coach at Arkansas, led the Razorbacks to the team title at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with 55 points. Arkansas, which entered the meet with 17 entries, had two individual champions – Amber Anning (400, leading the meet’s first-ever 1-2-3 sweep) and Rachel Glenn (high jump with a collegiate record-tying 2.00m/6-6¾). The Razorbacks also won the team title at the SEC Indoor Championships, winning two events.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Wes Kittley was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year. Kittley, in his 25th year as Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Texas Tech, led the Red Raiders to the team title at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, scoring 50.5 points and winning three individual events. Texas Tech also won the team title at the Big 12 Indoor Championships, scoring 152 points and winning four events.
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Rachel Glenn was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Glenn, who hails from Long Beach, California, equaled the collegiate record and set a meet record in winning the high jump at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. She cleared 2.00m (6-6¾) to win a thrilling competition. Earlier in the season, Glenn finished runner-up in the high jump at the SEC Indoor Championships with a then-PR bar of 1.94m (6-4¼). Glenn also won the high jump at the Razorback Invitational.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Leo Neugebauer was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Neugebauer, who hails from Leinfeldene-Echterdingen, Germany, won the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with a total of 6347 points that made him the fourth-best performer in collegiate history. Earlier in the season, Neugebauer better his previous PR to 6219 in winning the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Outside of the combined event, Neugebauer won the long jump at the Big 12 Indoor Championships with a mark of 7.92m (26-0) that put him 11th on the seasonal All-College Descender Order List.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Parker Valby was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. Valby, who hails from Tampa, Florida, ran into collegiate history this indoor season. It was at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships where she shattered her own collegiate record in the 5000 meters – and just missing the Olympic standard – with her 14:52.79 effort. The following day, Valby doubled back to win the 3000 meters in 8:41.50, which was a meet record and the third-fastest mark in collegiate history. Valby originally broke the 5000-meter collegiate record in December at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener when she ran 14:56.11.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Nico Young was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. Young, who hails from Camarillo, California, wrapped up a dream season with a sweep of the 3000- and 5000-meter titles at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, which included a meet record of 7:41.01 in the former. Earlier in the season, Young became the first collegian to run sub-13 minutes in the 5000 meters – regardless of venue – when he stopped the clock at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in 12:57.14. He also became the first person in history to register a sub-4 mile at 7,000 feet.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. Johnson, in his first year as assistant coach at Arkansas, oversaw a dynamic attack that led the Razorbacks to the team title in Boston. Johnson’s sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers scored 51.25 of Arkansas’ 55 points at the meet, including 24 from the first 1-2-3 sweep of the 400 meters. Rachel Glenn, his prized pupil in the field, won the high jump with a collegiate record-tying, meet record-setting clearance of 2.00m (6-6¾).
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Zach Glavash was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. Glavash, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Texas Tech, coached Red Raider sprinters and hurdlers to account for 47 of the team’s 50.5 points in winning the team title at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. His top athlete, Terrence Jones, swept the NCAA 60 and 200 meters. At the Big 12 Indoor Championships, Texas Tech scored 90 of its 152 points in the sprints and hurdles in winning the team title.