Holloway Named USTFCCCA National Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year

Holloway Named USTFCCCA National Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year

Tuesday, March 13, 2018 | Track and Field

By: Zach Dirlam

NEW ORLEANS – Florida head coach Mike Holloway was named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Men's Indoor Coach of the Year, as announced by the organization Tuesday afternoon.

This is the fourth time Holloway's earned the award, also garnering it in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Holloway led the Gators to their fourth victory at the NCAA Indoor Championships, which was the program's first since 2012, when it capped a three-peat. The Gators are now one of four programs in Division I history with four indoor titles, but they are the only one with at least four since 2010. Florida also boasts eight NCAA team titles since 2010—a total that leads all of Division I by three during that span.

Joined with its back-to-back victories at the 2016 and 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships, the Gators have won three of the last four NCAA team titles. Florida has also won the title or finished second at 20 of the 31 men's NCAA Championships Holloway has been head coach for, his first year being 2003. No other program has more than nine such finishes during that span.

Last weekend's national title also put Holloway in elite company. He became the fifth coach in Division I history to win eight men's NCAA team titles, as well as the fourth with at least eight since 1970. Those same four men—Holloway, UTEP's Ted Banks, LSU and Texas A&M's Pat Henry, and Arkansas' John McDonnell—are the only ones in Division I history with at least four indoor and four outdoor men's NCAA titles.

Although Holloway earned the award for his efforts with Florida's men, the women's team posted their first top-four finish at an NCAA Championship meet since 2015. It is the sixth time Holloway's led the women to a trophy since taking over as head coach in 2008. All those trophies have come since 2010, which is tied for the fourth-highest total during that span.

Holloway helped the Gators' program to the second-highest combined men's and women's score at last week's NCAA Indoor Championships, totaling 72 points. Florida's men tied with Georgia for the most first-team All-Americans, while the Gators' women totaled 10 All-America honors, nine of which were first-team plaudits.

Sophomore hurdler, jumper, and sprinter Grant Holloway was the only man to earn three first-team All-America honors this season. His 19.5 individual points at NCAA Indoors only trailed Houston's Elijah Hall (20) for the most by an individual this year.

Below is a list of Florida's All-Americans. First-team designations are awarded to top-eight finishers in each NCAA Indoor Championships event, while student-athletes who finished between ninth and 16th place garnered second-team laurels.

All-America First Team
Sharrika Barnett – 400 meters (fourth)
Barnett – 4x400 relay (third)
KeAndre Bates – Long Jump (sixth)
Bates – Triple Jump (second)
Clayton Brown – Triple Jump (fourth)
Lloydricia Cameron – Shot Put (fourth)
Yanis David – Long Jump (fourth)
David – Triple Jump (second)
Kunle Fasasi – 4x400 relay (third)
Lauryn Ghee – 4x400 relay (third)
Grant Holloway – 60-meter Hurdles (NCAA Champion)
Holloway – 4x400 relay (third)
Holloway – Long Jump (second)
Brandee' Johnson – 4x400 relay (third)
Benjamin Lobo Vedel – 4x400 relay (third)
Taylor Manson – 4x400 relay (third)
Darrielle McQueen – Long Jump (sixth)
Chantz Sawyers – 4x400 relay (third)

All-America Second Team
Amanda Froeynes – Pentathlon (ninth)
Thomas Mardal – Weight Throw (11th)
AJ McFarland – Weight Throw (ninth)

The Gators begin their 2018 outdoor season next Friday at the FSU Relays in Tallahassee.

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