Release courtesy of Tom Lewis, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, Communications Manager
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the National Coaches and Assistant Coaches of the Year for NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field. Grand Valley State University’s Jerry Baltes was named National Women’s Coaches of the Year. In addition, Grand Valley State’s Lou Andreadis was tapped as the organization’s top women’s assistant of the year.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: Jerry Baltes, Grand Valley State
Baltes, in his 13th year at GVSU, led the
Lakers to their second-straight NCAA outdoor title, scoring 90 team
points to hold off runner-up Lincoln (Mo.) who had 79. Rachel
Patterson won the 10,000 meters, Betsy Graney was the winner of the
steeplechase, Kristen Hixson again won the pole vault, and Liz
Murphy took top honors in the hammer throw. GVSU had 13 scorers in
the national meet and a meet-high 20 entries. The Lakers also took
the GLIAC crown this season.
Past Winners:
2012: Jerry Baltes, Grand Valley State
2011: Jerry Baltes, Grand Valley State
2010: James Reid, Angelo State
2009: James Reid, Angelo State
2008: Lucky Huber, South Dakota
2007: Jerry Baltes, Grand Valley State
NATIONAL WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Lou Andreadis, Grand Valley State
In Division II, awards for assistant coach of the year are judged based on both indoor and outdoor seasons.
The ninth-year pole vault coach at GVSU helped the Lakers to an indoor and outdoor sweep of NCAA team titles. Indoors, Andreadis’ vaulters finished first and third at the national championships as sophomore Kristen Hixson took the title. Outdoors, GVSU took first and second in the vault at the national meet as again Hixson won the NCAA crown with a meet-record clearance of 13-7¼ (4.15m).
Past Winners:
2012: Lou Andreadis, Grand Valley State
2011: Cory Young, Grand Valley State
2010: Tom Dibbern, Angelo State
2009: Tom Dibbern, Angelo State
2008: Ben Beyers, SIU Edwardsville
2007: Bob Raemore, Indiana (Pa.)
