Award History
NCAA DI OTF National Awards2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Monday 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 Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, but considered performances throughout the season when voting on these honors.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Mike Holloway was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year. Holloway, in his 22nd year as head coach at Florida, led the Gators to the team title at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, as the program collected 17 First-Team All-American honors, 13 in an event area (sprints/relays) with which he works most directly. Two of his athletes finished top-3 individually at the NCAA DI Championships – Robert Gregory (second in the 200) and Jevaughn Powell (third in the 400). Florida also amassed 12 All-SEC honors.
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Jaida Ross was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Ross, who hails from Medford, Oregon, rewrote the record book in the shot put this outdoor season and won the event crown at the 2024 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Oregon standout notched four of the top-5 marks in collegiate history, including her CR of 20.01m (65-7¾) that she threw at the NCAA DI Outdoor Championships – West First Round. In addition to those performances, Ross also doubled up on titles at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championships with victories in both the discus and shot put.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Leo Neugebauer was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Neugebauer, who hails from Leinfeldene-Echterdingen, Germany, set a collegiate record and moved up to sixth in world history in the decathlon with his 8961-point total at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His ten-event masterpiece, which included all-time collegiate bests for Day 1 and Day 2 totals, was highlighted by a decathlon discus world record of 57.70m (189-4). Earlier in the season, Neugebauer amassed 8708 points in the decathlon at the Texas Relays for another all-time top-5 mark in the collegiate record book.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Parker Valby was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. Valby, who hails from Tampa, Florida, doubled up on distance titles at the 2024 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships with record victories in both the 5000 and 10,000 meters. Her winning time in the 5000 meters of 14:52.18 set an absolute collegiate record and narrowly missed the Olympic standard by 0.18 seconds, while her 10,000-meter triumph of 31:46.09 set a meet record. Back in April, Valby shattered a 14-year-old CR in the 10,000 meters with her 30:50.43 clocking at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Caleb Dean was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. Dean, who hails from Hyattsville, Maryland, won the 400-meter hurdle title at the 2024 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 47.23, which is the second fastest mark in collegiate history. Earlier in the season, Dean clocked two identical 48.05 marks, which added to the 47.23 he ran at the NCAA Championships, made him the only athlete in collegiate history with three 48.05 or faster efforts in a single season.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Boogie Johnson was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. Johnson, in his first year as assistant coach at Arkansas, oversaw a dynamic set of performances by the Razorbacks throughout the season, especially at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Arkansas scored 54 points in the sprints and hurdles in Eugene, Oregon, including 29 from the 400 meters alone thanks to the first 1-2-3-4 sweep in meet history (Nickisha Pryce led the way with a collegiate record of 48.89). Later in the meet, the Razorbacks obliterated their own collegiate record in the 4×400 with their 3:17.96 winner.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Ken Harnden was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. Harnden, in his second year as assistant coach at Auburn, coached the Tigers’ sprinters and hurdlers to account for 36 of the team’s 40 points in finishing second at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His 4×100 team won Auburn’s first NCAA title in the event, and his athletes set six program records, including the 13.18 by Ja’Kobe Tharp which broke a 46-year-old American U20 record.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Chris Johnson was named the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor 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 Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 63 points. Arkansas advanced 17 entries in 14 events to the final site, winning two events with collegiate records – the 400 as Nickisha Pryce (48.89) paced the first 1-2-3-4 sweep in any event in meet history and the 4×400 relay (3:17.96) with the No. 10 performance in world history.