June 6, 2007

Following on the heels of his selection as a top assistant in the East Region last week, the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named North Carolina's Brian Blutreich the Men's Throws National Assistant Coach of the Year, the organization announced this week.

Blutreich - one of eight assistant coaches to be so honored - has helped lead his Tar Heel pupils to an excellent 2007 so far, with three of them still competing and among the favorites at this week's NCAA Championships.

The USTFCCCA selects the top Division I men's and women's assistant coaches in four categories: throws, sprints/hurdles, distances, and jumps/combined events.

The 2007 National Assistant Coaches of the Year for Division I track and field:

Men's throws: Brian Blutreich, North Carolina

Blutreich enhanced his reputation as one of the nation's finest teachers of the throwing events during his 11th season in Chapel Hill. Nick Owens (hammer) and Adam Montague (javelin) won East Region titles for the Tar Heels, while Owens and defending NCAA javelin champion Justin Ryncavage won Atlantic Coast Conference championships. Montague (242-4) and Ryncavage (240-6) are first and second on the collegiate list.

Men's sprints/hurdles: Ken Harnden, Florida State

Four of Harnden's sprinters qualified for the NCAA Championships, including Walter Dix, the collegiate record holder and defending champion in the 200 meters. The Seminoles finished 1-3-4 in the 100 at the East Regional and have the nation's fastest time in the 4 x 100 relay (38.71). Ricardo Chambers has the nation's top time in the 400 (44.62). Harnden was an NCAA champion in the 400 hurdles while attending North Carolina.

Men's distances: Jerry Schumacher, Wisconsin

The Badgers had another banner year. After winning the NCAA men's indoor track and field title, where his distance group scored 28 points, Wisconsin enters the outdoor championships with the defending champion in the 5,000 (Chris Solinsky) and the third-fastest collegian in the 10,000 (Tim Nelson). The Badgers won the Big 10 Conference "triple crown" this school year in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.

Men's jumps/combined events: Jake Jacoby, Louisville

Louisville is having its finest track and field season ever, and Jacoby's jumpers are a big reason why. Tone Belt qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the long jump and high jump, and teammate Andre Black made it in the long and triple jumps. Belt won the NCAA indoor title in the long jump. Jacoby won the 1984 NCAA title in the high jump for Boise State.

Women's sprints/hurdles: Lawrence Johnson, Virginia Tech

Johnson's second season at Virginia Tech brought some remarkable results. The Hokies won Atlantic Coast Conference and East Region titles, and freshman hurdler Kristi Castlin broke a 28-year-old U.S. junior record when she won the East Region title in 12.91. Patrice Potts and Britni Spruill qualified for the NCAA Championships in both the 100 and 200 meters. Castlin has the top time nationally in the 100 hurdles. Sherlenia Green (400 hurdles) and Virginia Tech's sprint relay team also qualified for nationals.

Women's distances: Mike McGuire, Michigan

The Wolverines had a season for the ages in the middle and long distances. Katie Erdman (800), Nicole Edwards (1,500) and Anna Willard (3,000-meter steeplechase) all won Mideast Region titles for Michigan. At the Penn Relays, Michigan set collegiate records in the 4 x 800 and 4 x 1,500 relay events. McGuire, in his seventh season in Ann Arbor, is head coach of Michigan's cross country team.

Women's jumps/combined events: Boo Shnexayder, LSU

Schexnayder continued his fine work with LSU's jumpers in his 12th season in Baton Rouge. Andrea Linton won the Southeastern Conference title in the triple jump and qualified for the NCAA meet in both horizontal jumps. Also qualifying for nationals were Kathryn Coleman (long jump), Shaunette Davidson (high jump) and Katelyn Rodirgue (pole vault). LSU's women won SEC and Mideast Region titles.

Women's throws: David Dumble Arizona State

Dumble's throwers are the backbone of Arizona State's top-ranked women's team. Sarah Stevens won the NCAA indoor title in the shot put and is seeded first in the shot put (60-41⁄2) and discus (189-4) heading into the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Stevens also qualified for nationals in the hammer. Jessica Pressley also qualified for the NCAA meet in shot, discus and hammer. Dumble, an All-American discus thrower at UCLA, is in his sixth season as the throws coach at Arizona State.