Queens' Vahrenkamp and Scott Earn USTFCCCA Regional Coach of the Year Honors

March 4, 2019

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2019 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season were announced Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with Queens University of Charlotte's Jim Vahrenkamp and Tom Scott earning Southeast Region Head Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year honors on the men's side.

"It is incredibly important to be recognized among our peers," said Vahrenkamp. "To be able to be recognized as one of the best coaches in our region is important and humbling. I am excited for our assistant and head cross country coach Tom Scott to be honored as one of the best distance coaches in the United States. Our goal every single year is to be the best program in our region and one of the top 10 programs in the country."

Vahrenkamp led Queens to the top spot in the Southeast Region rankings and a top-25 national ranking. The Royals won the SAC Indoor Championship by over 50 points, and Vahrenkamp was named the conference's Coach of the Year. Vahrenkamp is in his 7th year as Director of Cross Country and Track and Field at Queens. This is his seventh time being named region coach of the year for either the men or women.

Scott, who is in his first year at Queens as an assistant coach with the distance crew, guided three athletes to NCAA bids in four events, including Daniel Wallis who is entered in both the mile and 3000 meters for the meet. His athletes accounted for 87 of the 184 points for the led to a South Atlantic Conference team title.

Each of the eight regions honored both genders' top track athletes and field athletes and the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches.

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.

Many of these honored athletes and coaches will be in competition at the 2019 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, which are set for this weekend in Pittsburg, Kansas.

USTFCCCA Regional Awards are presented by Pro Form Sports.