Outdoor National Coach of the Year Honors Announced for DIII

Josh Buchholtz, UW-La Crosse

Buchholtz, in his fifth season at UW-La Crosse, led the Eagles to a team title at the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships to complete the season sweep of the NCAA indoor/outdoor team titles. The margin of victory over in-state rival UW-Eau Claire was narrow with the Eagles clinching a 66-64 advantage in the 4×400 finale. Buchholtz guided the Eagles to a balanced performance at the NCAA Championships, with points coming from jumps, middle- and long-distance events, sprints, relays and throws. UW-La Crosse qualified the most entries to the NCAA Championships with 23, 13 of which scored points.

Buchholtz also led the Eagles to a WIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships team title, outgunning Oshkosh again, 223- 206, behind five event titles. He was named the WIAC Coach of the Year.

Marcus Newsom, Wartburg

In his 20th season at the helm of the Wartburg program, Newsom led his Knights to a defense of their NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships team title from 2012, edging out indoor champion UW-Oshkosh on the final event of the meet to claim a 46-43 victory. The Knights did not claim any individual or relay titles between their 17 entries, but three student-athletes finished runners-up in their events and six others finished within the top six to score points.

Newsom led the Knights to an IIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships team crown, winning by 116 points with a score of 286. Wartburg claimed 11 event titles during the IIAC Championships, earning Newsom Coach of the Year honors.

Derek Stanley, UW-La Crosse

Stanley, in his second season coaching distance events at UW-La Crosse, helped guide his runners to 17 of the Eagles’ 66 overall team points at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships en route to a team title. Sean Royer finished runner-up at 800 meters, David Stliin third at 5000 meters and Jacob Peterson sixth at 1500 meters. The Eagles’ three middle-distance entries to the NCAA Championships was tied for most in the country. His distance crew was also invaluable in the Eagles’ WIAC team title, scoring 75 of the team’s 223 points.

Melissa Norton, Wartburg

Norton, in her 10th season coaching throws at Wartburg, guided her throwers to 17 of the Knights team championship-winning 46 points at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Three of her four throws entries in the NCAA Championships scored for the Knights as Kayla Hemann finished runner-up in the shot put and fifth in the discus, while Britlyn Sieck finished fourth in the discus. Norton also guided the Wartburg throwers to a successful IIAC Championships performance, where 58 of the Knights’ 286 points came in the throws with titles in the shot put by Hemann and the discus by Sieck.

Past Winners

National Men’s Coach of the Year

National Women’s Coach of the Year

National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year

National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year