WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.-Monmouth track and field head coach Joe Compagni was named the Mid-Atlantic Regional Head Coach of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, announced Monday evening.
Compagni led the Hawks to their second straight Northeast Conference title, their seventh since 2004. The Hawks have won or placed second in the conference the last 10 years in a row. Tallying 162.5 points at the 2013 NEC Indoor Track and Field Championships, a NEC record for most points scored, the Hawks won by 62.5 points against rival Long Island University Brooklyn. Twenty women from Monmouth scored in 16 of 17 events at the conference championships.
“I am proud of the great efforts of our team and our coaching
staff this year," Compagni said of the distinguishment. "From pre-season right up through the ECAC/IC4A Championships
this past weekend, they have been focused and determined to compete together at
a high level.”
The Coach of the Year honor is the fifth
NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year honor for Compagni and
his staff. They had previously won the honor for Men's Outdoor Track &
Field in 2007 and 2009, Women's Indoor Track in 2009, and Women's Outdoor Track and Field in 2012. Compagni and his staff were also recently
selected as the Northeast Conference Men's Coach of the Year for indoor track,
the 27th NEC Coach of the Year honor they have earned, more than any
coaching staff in any sport in NEC history.
Also on the ballot as candidates for Mid-Atlantic Regional
honors were Abraham Flores (Assistant Coach of the Year), Rachel Watkins and
Errol Jeffrey (Field Event Athlete of the Year), and Ford Palmer and Amanda
Eller (Track Athlete of the Year).
The men's winning score of 164.5 was also
one of the highest scores in the history of the meet. With their wins this season, the men and women have now won a
total of 33 Northeast Conference titles in cross country and track, more than
any team in any sport in NEC history. The men were ranked ninth and the women were ranked 12th in last week's NCAA
Division I USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Regional poll, and both teams received
points in the National poll.
The Hawks will begin their outdoor season at home with the 18th Annual Monmouth Season Opener on March 29-30.
Recent years Monmouth has won the NEC Indoor Championships: 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013
