Lucas, Newsom, Hill & Wagner Named 2014 Division III Outdoor T&F National Coaches of the Year

LATEST USTFCCCA NEWS
View on the web
Lucas, Newsom, Hill & Wagner Named 2014 Division III Outdoor T&F National Coaches of the Year
May 28, 2014

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Wednesday its National Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches of the Year for the 2014 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field season, as voted on by USTFCCCA member coaches themselves.

Head Coach of the Year honors went to the national championship coaches Kevin Lucas of the Mount Union men and Marcus Newsom of the Wartburg women. Men's and Women's Assistant Coach of the Year accolades were awarded to Jordan Hill of Baldwin Wallace and Katie Wagner of UW-La Crosse, respectively.

MORE INFO: Past Winners


Kevin Lucas
Mount Union

Lucas, in his fourth year at the head of the men's program at Mount Union, led his squad to its first outdoor team title in program history by five points over defending national team champion UW-La Crosse, 47-42.

His squad was powered by All-America performances in eight different events, including two national titles from National Field Athlete of the Year Sean Donnelly in the shot put and hammer throw. His 4x400 crew also won the national title to seal the Raiders' overall team title.

Preceding the national team title were team victories at the OAC Championships and the All-Ohio Division III Championships.


Marcus Newsom
Wartburg

Newsom, in his 20th season at Wartburg, guided the Knights to their third consecutive national team title, this time by just two points over UW-Oshkosh, 65-63. Wartburg became just the fourth program to win three straight titles, the most recent being Wheaton (Mass.) from 2001-03.

The Knights scored All-America honors in 10 different events, including a crucial runner-up finish in the 4x400 relay that sealed the team title. Anchoring that relay for Newsom's Wartburg squad was the Knights' lone national champion in Libbey Schubert.

Prior to the national title, his squad claimed its 15th consecutive IIAC team crown.


Jordan Hill
Baldwin Wallace

Men's National Assistant Coach of the Year Hill, in her second year at Baldwin Wallace, mentored National Track Athlete of the Year Kevin Johnson to peak at the right time with 100 and 200 meters national titles in personal-best times.

Johnson won at 100 meters in 10.50 and at 200 meters in 20.98, while teammate Benjamin Beidleman earned an All-America honor at 200 meters in eighth to account for all of BW's points in Delaware.

Those two led a group at the OAC Championships that scored 45 team points and 46 points at the All-Ohio DIII Championships.


Katie Wagner
UW-La Crosse

Women's National Assistant Coach of the Year Wagner, in her fifth year at UW-La Crosse, had four student-athletes combine for 18 of the fourth-place Eagles' 38 team points in the jumps and hurdles.

Ten points came from the triple jump, where Bria Halama finished runner-up and Bailey Alston finished seventh, while another eight came in the 100-meter hurdles where Jaime Ludwigson and Claire Gordee finished fourth and sixth, respectively.

Her athletes scored a combined 83 points of the Eagles' 232 points at the WIAC Championships en route to a conference title.




U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
1100 Poydras Street, Suite 1750
New Orleans, LA 70163

Contact: Kyle Terwillegar
Communications Assistant
kyle@ustfccca.org
(504) 599-8905