Award History
NCAA DII ITF Regional Awards2024 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2024 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 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kansas. 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 – Noah Bernarding – California (Pa.)
Bernarding, who hails from Cochranton, Pennsylvania, scored 18 points at the PSAC Indoor Track & Field Championships with a victory in the mile and a runner-up effort in the 800 meters. He earned Second-Team All-America honors in the 800 meters at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Wes Ferguson – Neb.-Kearney
Ferguson, who hails from Fremont, Nebraska, won the 800-meter title at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Ferguson ran 1:47.32 at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational for the fourth-fastest mark in NCAA DII history.
EAST REGION – Stephen Harris – Franklin Pierce
Harris, who hails from Billerica, Massachusetts, finished third in the 200 meters at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Just a few weeks earlier, Harris was named the MVP of the NE10 Indoor Championships after winning the 60 meters and 200 meters, the latter of which with a 21.00 PB that took down a conference record. Back in December, Harris turned 300 meters in 33.86 for the third-fastest mark in NCAA DII history.
MIDWEST REGION – Caleb Futter – Grand Valley State
Futter, who hails from New Albany, Indiana, won the mile and anchored Grand Valley State’s DMR to a fourth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Futter covered the mile distance in 3:58.65 on the oversized oval at Notre Dame for an all-time, all-conditions top-10 mark in NCAA DII history.
SOUTH REGION – Cale Kassen – Lee (Tenn.)
Kassen, who hails from Valley View, Texas, left his mark in the hurdles during the indoor season. It was at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships where he went 7.71 in the heptathlon to record an all-time collegiate best in the combined event. Later in the meet, Kassen finished third in the open final of the 60-meter hurdles, which was his only loss across all competitions. Earlier in the season, Kassen also went 7.74 to win the 60H crown at the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championships for the third-fastest mark of the NCAA DII season.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Miguel Coca – Adams State
Coca, who hails from Las Vegas, New Mexico, made history nearly every time he stepped on the track this season. He particularly starred in February, where he shattered the NCAA DII 3000-meter record with his 7:44.90 clocking at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational and clocked the second-fastest all-conditions mile in NCAA DII history of 3:56.38 at the Ken Shannon Last Chance. Coca capped his indoor season by scoring 18.5 points at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships with runner-up finishes in both the mile and 3000 meters, plus an anchor leg on the title-winning distance medley relay.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Hamza Chahid – Wingate
Chahid, who hails from Casablanca, Morocco, won the 5000-meter title at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships in 13:51.02, which set a program record. Earlier in the season, Chahid went 7:47.70 over 3000 meters at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational to become the third-fastest performer in NCAA DII history.
WEST REGION – Shareez Hamm – Academy of Art
Hamm, who hails from Gray, Georgia, earned two All-America honors at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Hamm turned in marks that made him a three-time All-Region performer, including a 400-meter chart-topper of 47.47.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Mason Boyd – Shippensburg
Boyd, who hails from Macungie, Pennsylvania, bettered the PSAC heptathlon record twice during the indoor season: once at the PSAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, where he amassed 5201 points; and then at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships, where he totaled 5219 points for a tenth-place finish.
CENTRAL REGION – Peyton Barton – Missouri Southern
Barton, who hails from Rocky Comfort, Missouri, left his mark on the NCAA DII record book throughout the season. He added five all-time top-15 marks to the ledger in the weight throw, highlighted by his 23.13m (75-10¾) PR that made him the No. 2 performer in NCAA DII history behind Kibwe Johnson. Barton won the weight throw at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships by more than two feet.
EAST REGION – Nishorn Pierre – Holy Family (Pa.)
Pierre, who hails from Grenada, ended the regular season ranked among the top-2 athletes regionally in all three jumping events, including top marks in the high jump and triple jump. He won all three jumping events at the ECC Indoor Track & Field Championships and then earned Second-Team All-America honors with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships just a few weeks later.
MIDWEST REGION – Jaivon Harrison – Grand Valley State
Harrison, who hails from Cleveland, Ohio, won the high jump title at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships with a near clean sheet. Earlier in the season, Harrison cleared 2.23m (7-3¾) to win the event at the GLIAC Indoor Championships and equal the eighth-best performer in NCAA DII history. Harrison also placed fifth in the event at the USATF Indoor Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Cale Kassen – Lee (Tenn.)
Kassen, who hails from Valley View, Texas, shattered the NCAA DII heptathlon record in winning the combined event at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. He amassed 5801 points, which included an all-time collegiate heptathlon best in the 60-meter hurdles of 7.71. Kassen PR’d in six of the seven events at the NCAA Championships.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Eddie Kurjak – Colorado Mesa
Kurjak, who hails from Longmont, Colorado, earned two First-Team All-America honors in jumping events at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. He finished fourth in the high jump and eighth in the triple jump in Pittsburg, Kansas. Earlier in the season, Kurjak won the high jump and placed third in the triple jump at the RMAC Indoor Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Ryan Wilson-McCoy – Mount Olive
McCoy, who hails from Bealeton, Virginia, bounded 15.14m (49-8¼) at the Fastrack Last Chance Meet to set conference and program records. Two weeks later, McCoy earned Second-Team All-America honors in the triple jump with a 14th place finish at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships.
WEST REGION – Yacouba Gnacko – Academy of Art
Gnacko, who hails from Paris, France, earned First-Team All-America honors in the triple jump at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships, where he placed fifth. Earlier in the season, Gnacko won three triple jump competitions, which included a 15.63m (51-3½) PB to top the podium at the Fastack Last Chance Meet.
Men’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Dave Osanitsch – Shippensburg
Osanitsch, in his 19th year as Head Coach at Shippensburg, led the Red Raiders to the team title at the PSAC Indoor Championships with 182 points, winning five events and scoring in all 17 events. Shippensburg had two athletes earning All-America honors – Mason Boyd in the heptathlon and Drew Bailey in the 800, with Boyd also being named PSAC Men’s Most Valuable Field Athlete.
CENTRAL REGION – Kyle Rutledge – Pittsburg State
Rutledge, in his third year as Head Coach at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to the team title at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships with 69 points, winning three events. Pittsburg State, which compiled 14 First-Team All-American performances, also won the team title at the MIAA Indoor Championships with a meet-record 212 points, winning eight events.
EAST REGION – John Wallin – Southern Connecticut
Wallin, in his 14th year as Head Coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Fighting Owls to the team title at the Northeast-10 Indoor Championships with 238 points to win by 85 points while winning nine events. Southern Connecticut was ranked No. 1 in the East Region the entire season and their top athlete, Cameron Belton, won the NE10 shot put and placed 14th at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State
Baltes, in his 25th year as Head Coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to a runner-up finish at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships with 56.5 points, winning three events. GVSU, which had 12 entries in the DII Indoor Championships, also won the GLIAC Indoor Championships with 279 points, winning 10 events as the program earned GLIAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
SOUTH REGION – Caleb Morgan – Lee (Tenn.)
Morgan, in his 12th year as Director of Track & Field at Lee (Tenn.), led the Flames to the team title at the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championships, winning six events. Lee had a program-record 19 NCAA DII provisional marks this year and had three All-America honorees led by Cale Kassen, who won the heptathlon with a DII record of 5801 points.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Matt Stewart – West Texas A&M
Stewart, in his seventh year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, led the Buffaloes to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships with 37 points. West Texas A&M, which had 14 athletes entered across 10 events at the DII Indoor, also won the team title at the Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships with a program-record 222 points, winning nine events.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Earl Graves – Mount Olive
Graves, in his fifth year as Director of Cross Country/Director of Track & Field and Head Coach at Mount Olive, led the Trojans to the team title at the Conference Carolinas Indoor Championships with 164 points, winning six events. He was named Conference Coach of the Year and coached Kamden Johnson to be named Conference Field Athlete of the Year.
WEST REGION – Kevin LaSure – Academy of Art
LaSure, in his ninth year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at Academy of Art, led the Urban Knights to earn three All-America honors at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Academy of Art, which qualified six athletes in five events to the DII Indoor, set school records this year in the 60-meter hurdles and high jump.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Steve Spence – Shippensburg
Spence, in his 27th year as assistant coach at Shippensburg, coached Red Raider mid-distance and distance runners to score in every event he coaches at the PSAC Indoor Championships, racking up 77 of the team’s 182 points in winning the team title. His top athlete, Drew Dailey, earned Second Team All-America honors in the 800 meters at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships after winning his third 800 title at the PSAC Indoor Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Jason Crow – Pittsburg State
Crow, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Pittsburg State, coached Gorilla sprinters to account for 36 of the team’s 69 points in winning the team title at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Crow’s sprint/hurdle crew earned 10 All-America honors including titles in the 60-meter hurdles (Daylin Williams) and 4×400 relay.
EAST REGION – Brian Nill – Southern Connecticut
Nill, in his ninth year as assistant coach at Southern Connecticut, coached the Fighting Owls’ distance runners to score 96 of the team’s 238 points in winning the team title. His top athlete, Jonathan Volpe, broke the school record in the mile with a time of 4:03.16 and swept the 800/mile double at the Northeast-10 Indoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Steve Jones – Grand Valley State
Jones, in his 16th year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, coached Laker high jumpers to score 20.5 of the team’s 56.5 points at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships, placing 1-2-6. His high jumpers went 1-2-3 and his long jumpers went 1-2-4 at the GLIAC Indoor Championships to combine for 61 points.
SOUTH REGION – Lane Fletcher – Lee (Tenn.)
Fletcher, in his second year as Associate Head Coach at Lee (Tenn.), coached the Flames’ Cale Kassen to win the heptathlon at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships, scoring a DII-record 5801 points. Fletcher also clocked 7.71 in the 60-meter hurdles, the fastest DII time this year and fastest by any collegian ever in a heptathlon.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Zach Daniel – West Texas A&M
Daniel, in his second year as assistant coach at West Texas A&M, coached Buffalo distance runners to podium sweeps in two events at the LSC Indoor Championships, going 1-2-3 in the 3000 meters and 1-2-3-4 in the 5000 meters. His top athlete, William Amponsah won both events with meet records.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Pol Domenech – Wingate
Domenech, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Wingate, coached the Bulldogs’ distance runners to compile 125 of the team’s 177 points in winning the team title at the SAC Indoor Championships. His athletes scored all 23 of Wingate’s points at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships, finishing ninth as a team.
WEST REGION – Nkosinza Balumbu – Academy of Art
Balumbu, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Academy of Art, coached the Urban Knights’ Yacouba Gnacko to a fifth-place finish in the triple jump at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships, earning First-Team All-America honors. His jumpers also set a school record in the high jump this season.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Anna Igims – Slippery Rock
Igims, who hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was on a roll at the 2024 PSAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. She scored 32.5 team points with individual victories in the mile, 3000 meters, 5000 meters, and a leg on the title winning DMR.
CENTRAL REGION – Denisha Cartwright – Minnesota State
Cartwright, who hails from Nassau, Bahamas, rewrote the record book during the indoor season, specifically in the 60-meter hurdles. She clocked four of the top-5 marks in NCAA DII history, including the 7.93 chart-topper that she recorded at the 2024 NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships. Cartwright racked up points in the postseason, scoring 24.25 points at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships to be named High Point Scorer and 30 just a few weeks earlier at the NSIC Indoor Championships.
EAST REGION – Katherine Marsh – Adelphi
Marsh, who hails from East Meadow, New York, completed an impressive run at the 2024 NE-10 Indoor Track & Field Championships. She won individual titles in the 800 meters and mile, and assisted on the 4×400, 4×800 and distance medley relays. Named NE-10 Conference Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and NE-10 Conference Track Performer of the Meet, her 27.5 points helped lead Adelphi to its highest team finish in program history at the indoor conference championship. Marsh finished the year Second-Team All-American at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 800 meters.
MIDWEST REGION – Alaysia Brooks – Ursuline
Brooks, who hails from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, solidified her spot as an 800-meters specialist this season, winning the individual title at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. In the prelims, Brooks went 2:05.66 to become the seventh fastest all-conditions performer in NCAA DII history. Brooks’ 800 meter success also translated to the relays, aiding Ursuline’s DMR squad hit an NCAA provisional mark at 11:51.22.
SOUTH REGION – McKenna Cavanaugh – Lee (Tenn.)
Cavanaugh, who hails from New Albany, Indiana, scored 22.5 points at the 2024 Gulf South Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships. She won individual titles in the mile and 3000 meters and ran a leg on the winning distance medley relay. That same foursome later finished fifth at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships in a new program record.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Gracie Hyde – Adams State
Hyde, who hails from Benton, Arkansas, left her mark one mile and 3000 meters at a time this season. Back in February, Hyde shattered the NCAA DII 3000-meter record with her 8:58.33 clocking at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational and later anchored the Grizzlies to a division record in the DMR. Later that month, Hyde clocked a 4:30.90 mile on the oversized track in Washington for the fastest all-conditions mark in NCAA DII history. Fast forward to the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships and she scored 22.5 points with individual victories in both the mile and 3000 meters, as well as a tote on the winning DMR.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Alexis Brown – Lenoir-Rhyne
Brown, who hails from Mableton, Georgia, swept the sprints at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. She equaled the NCAA DII record of 7.18 to win the 60 meters and won the 200 meters by 0.14 seconds. Earlier in the season, Brown completed the same double at the SAC Indoor Championships and was named SAC Track Athlete of the Year.
WEST REGION – Lauryn James – Academy of Art
James, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earned First-Team All-America honors in the 200 meters at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. She was a three-time All-Region performer with top-5 performances in the 60 meters, 200 meters and as part of the Urban Knights’ 4×400 relay.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Beyonce Kelly – California (Pa.)
Kelly, who hails from Edgewood, Maryland, finished runner-up in the high jump at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Kelly cleared 1.73m (5-8) to win the event title at the PSAC Indoor Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Blakelee Winn – Pittsburg State
Winn, who hails from Pea Ridge, Arkansas, won the pentathlon at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships, despite being seeded ninth coming into the meet. She scored 4009 points, which made her the 13th best performer in NCAA DII history.
EAST REGION – Brynn King – Roberts Wesleyan
King, who hails from Rochester, New York, literally raised the bar during the indoor season. She originally shattered a longstanding NCAA DII record in the pole vault back in December and continued doing so throughout the season until finally topping out at 4.63m (15-3) to win the event title at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Not only is King atop the NCAA DII record book, she is also No. 5 in collegiate history, among all divisions.
MIDWEST REGION – Zoe Pentecost – Indianapolis
Pentecost, who hails from Westfield, Indiana, won the weight throw at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. She captured the event title with a personal best mark of 20.47m (67-2) and cracked the all-time top-20 in NCAA DII history. Earlier in the season, Pentecost scored 18 points at the GLIAC Indoor Championships with a victory in the weight throw and a runner-up effort in the shot put.
SOUTH REGION – Mikaela Miles – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Miles, who hails from San Diego, California, was the top-ranked triple jumper in the South Region and earned Second-Team All-America honors at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Miles scored 18 points at the Peach Belt Indoor Championships with a victory in the triple jump and a runner-up effort in the long jump.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Hannah Miller – Colo. School of Mines
Miller, who hails from Cypress, Texas, finished runner-up in the pole vault at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Miller set an absolute RMAC record in that event of 4.27m (14-0) to win the title at the RMAC Indoor Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kadidja Sangare – Carson-Newman
Sangare, who hails from Alphen Aan Den Rijn, Netherlands, was the highest finishing field event athlete from the Southeast Region at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. She finished eighth in the long jump to earn First-Team All-America honors. Earlier in the season, Sangare won the long jump at the SAC Indoor Championships.
WEST REGION – Jonon Young – Cal State LA
Young, who hails from Carson, California, starred in the horizontal jumps at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. She won the triple jump with a PR of 13.19m (43-3¼) and finished runner-up in the long jump for 18 points. That mark in the triple jump made her the seventh-best performer in NCAA DII history.
Women’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Bill Jordan – Slippery Rock
Jordan, in his second year as Head Coach at Slippery Rock, led The Rock to the team title at the PSAC Indoor Championships with 136 points, winning six events. One of his top athletes, Anna Igims, was named the meet’s Track and Overall MVP, while Kendall Grossman earned All-America honors at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Kyle Rutledge – Pittsburg State
Rutledge, in his third year as Head Coach/Assistant Athletic Director at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to a runner-up finish at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships with 64.5 points. Pittsburg State racked up 14 First-Team All-America honors at the DII Indoor and also won the team title at the MIAA Indoor Championships with a meet-record 221 points, winning seven events.
EAST REGION – Katie Rees – Adelphi
Rees, in her 14th year as Head Coach/Assistant Athletic Director at Adelphi, led the Panthers to have the most qualifiers of any team in the East Region for the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Adelphi finished a program-best second place in the Northeast-10 Conference Indoor Championships, winning seven events.
MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State
Baltes, in his 25th year as Head Coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships with 48 points, including a national champion in the shot put among 11 All-America honors. Grand Valley State also won the team title at the GLIAC Indoor Championships, winning seven events.
SOUTH REGION – Michael Rosolino – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Rosolino, in his 22nd year as Head Coach at Embry-Riddle (Fla.), led the Eagles to the team title at the Peach Belt Conference Indoor Championships with 258 points, winning eight events. Embry-Riddle had an athlete rank in the top-20 in the South Region in every event, including rating top-10 in 14 events.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Damon Martin – Adams State
Martin, in his 36th year as Head Coach/Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Adams State, led the Grizzlies to the team title at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships with 67 points, racking up 12 First-Team and four Second-Team All-America honors. One of his top athletes, Gracie Hyde, was named RMAC Women’s Co-Track Athlete of the Year.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Brandon Morton – Converse
Morton, in his ninth year as Head Coach at Converse, led the Valkyries to their first team title at the Conference Carolinas Indoor Championships, winning seven events while medaling in 10 events. Converse amassed 12 marks to rank among the top-10 in the South Region and broke nine school records this season.
WEST REGION – Jack Hoyt – Azusa Pacific
Hoyt, in his seventh year as Director of Track & Field at Azusa Pacific, led the Cougars to a sixth-place finish at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships with 29 points, led by national champion Nicole Warwick in the long jump. Azusa Pacific, which had 17 provisional marks across eight events, was the No. 1-ranked team in the West Region.
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Bobby Over – Slippery Rock
Over, in his second year as assistant coach at Slippery Rock, coached The Rock’s mid-distance and distance runners to win every distance event above 800 meters at the PSAC Indoor Championships. His runners, which had at least one All-Region athlete or team in four events, was led by Anna Igims, who was named PSAC Most Outstanding Track and Most Outstanding Overall Athlete.
CENTRAL REGION – Chris Parno – Minnesota State
Parno, in his 11th year as Associate Head Coach at Minnesota State, coached the Mavericks’ sprinters and hurdlers to account for 42 of the team’s 54 points in finishing third at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. His top athlete, Denisha Cartwright, earned high-point honors at the DII Indoor with 24.25 points after breaking the DII record in the 60-meter hurdles at 7.93 earlier in the season.
EAST REGION – Valmore Holt – Adelphi
Holt, in his 12th year as assistant coach at Adelphi, coached athletes to score 32 of the Panthers’ 42 points at the 2024 NE-10 Indoor Track & Field Championships. Co-Field Athlete of the Meet Lindsey Wilson won the high jump and finished runner-up in the triple jump to lead the way. Valencia Beaubrun also starred with a third-place effort in the long jump. Holt also assisted Amari Johnson, who won the 60-meter hurdles.
MIDWEST REGION – Matt Conly – Grand Valley State
Conly, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, coached his throwers to three First-Team All-America honors at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships, highlighted by a shot put victory by Erika Beistle. His athletes scored 51 points at the GLIAC Indoor Championships between those two events and swept each as well.
SOUTH REGION – Scott Byrd – Alabama-Huntsville
Byrd, in his second year as Associate Head Coach at Alabama-Huntsville, coached the Chargers’ sprinters to a dynamic performance at the 2024 Gulf South Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships. UAH sprinters went 1-3-5-6 in the 60 meters, 1-3-6 in the 200 meters, 1-5 in the 400 meters and won the 4×400 relay. Freshman stood out for the Chargers at the GSC Indoor Championships, namely Amiah Murry, who won the 400-meter crown.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Jocelyn Sparks – Colo. School of Mines
Sparks, in her 11th year as assistant coach at Colorado School of Mines, coached Hannah Miller to a runner-up finish in the pole vault at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. At the RMAC Indoor Championships, Sparks’ vaulters compiled 26 points, including a victory by Miller that set an absolute RMAC record of 4.27m (14-0).
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kayonna Lewis – Lenoir-Rhyne
Lewis, in her third year as assistant coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, coached Alexis Brown to a sweep of the sprint titles at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Brown equaled the NCAA DII record of 7.18 in the final of the 60 meters and won the 200-meter title by 0.14 seconds. Earlier in the season, Lewis coached three athletes to event titles at the SAC Indoor Championships.
WEST REGION – Sean Fernandes – Cal State LA
Fernandes, in his eighth year as assistant coach at Cal State LA, coached Jonon Young to score 18 points at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. Young won the triple jump with a mark of 13.19m (43-3¼) that made her the seventh-best performer in NCAA DII history and finished second in the long jump in Pittsburg, Kansas..