Award History
NCAA DII OTF National Awards2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Thursday 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 II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Emporia, Kansas, but considered performances throughout the season when voting on these honors.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Jesse Miller was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. Miller, in his second year as assistant coach at Pittsburg State, coached the Gorillas’ jumpers to account for 37 of the team’s 100 points in winning the team title at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His jumpers also scored 39.5 points at the MIAA Outdoor Championships, and his triple jump and high jump groups rated No. 1 in the national #EventSquad rankings.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Brian Allen was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. Allen, in his tenth year as assistant coach at Missouri Southern, coached the Lions’ throwers to account for 36 of the team’s 42 points in finishing fourth at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His crew won the hammer, had three First Team All-American honors in the discus (3-4-5), two First Team All-American honors in the shot (3-6) and finished seventh in the javelin. At the MIAA Outdoor Championships, his throwers combined for 56 points.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Kyle Rutledge was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year. Rutledge, his third year as head coach at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to the team title at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, scoring 100 points and winning two events while earning 24 First Team All-American honors. Pittsburg State also won the team title at the MIAA Outdoor Championships, winning nine events.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Kyle Rutledge was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year. Rutledge, in his third year as head coach at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to the team title at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 78 points, winning four events – 200 meters, 110-meter hurdles, triple jump and decathlon. Pittsburg State also won the team title at the MIAA Outdoor Championships with 186.5 points, winning six events with 12 All-MIAA (top-3) honors.
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Cheyenne Nesbitt was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Nesbitt, who hails from Bay City, Michigan, won the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a meet-record score of 6002 points. She also placed seventh in the high jump in Emporia, Kansas. Earlier in the season, Nesbitt won both the high jump and long jump at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships.
Though not germane to this award, since it’s based solely on the 2024 outdoor season, Nesbitt became just the second woman in NCAA history – among all divisions – to win four heptathlon titles.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Jordan Davis was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Davis, who hails from Wallingford, Connecticut, won the javelin – and became the fourth best performer in collegiate history – with his winning heave of 84.45m (277-1) at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Davis launched the javelin 84.45m (274-10) at the Texas Relays for what is now the tenth farthest mark in collegiate history.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Denisha Cartwright was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. Cartwright, who hails from Nassau, Bahamas, capped a historic season with a masterclass performance at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was in Emporia, Kansas, where she scored 28.25 points with individual titles in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 200 meters, as well as a runner-up finish in the 100 meters and a tote on the eighth-place 4×100 relay. Her winning mark of 12.37 in the 100H was an all-conditions, world-leading mark and among the top-5 all-conditions performances in collegiate history. Just a few weeks earlier, Cartwright set the NCAA DII 100H record of 12.60 at the NSIC Outdoor Championships.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Wes Ferguson was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. Ferguson, who hails from Fremont, Nebraska, won the 800-meter title at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships to cap an undefeated season against all collegians in the two-lapper. His spotless season included victories at the Bryan Clay Invitational and Drake Relays. Ferguson ended the year with the 12th fastest mark among all collegians at 1:45.85 that doubled as the fifth best mark in NCAA DII history.