Gottsleben selected National Track, Field Coach of Year

Dave Gottsleben, South Dakota's head men's track and field coach, was named the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) at an awards banquet May 24 in Emporia, KS.

Gottsleben was presented the honor during the banquet, in which the outstanding student-athletes and coaches of the 2006 outdoor season, along with the induction of Division II Hall of Fame members was conducted by the USTFCCCA. Former Coyote Steve Gordon (1997-98) became the first-ever inductee from USD (just the fourth from the NCC) into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame.

Gottsleben was selected from eight NCAA Division II Regional Outdoor Coaches of the Year in a vote by USTFCCCA coaches.

"This is a very humbling honor," said Gottsleben, who was also the 1997 USTFCCCA Division II Indoor National Coach of the Year. "The credit for the award goes to the outstanding student-athletes at USD, as well as our coaching staff. I appreciate all the hard work and dedication that these coaches and the student-athletes have put into our program, which has resulted in significant success."

Earlier in the week, Gottsleben was picked as the North Central Region Coach of the Year for the eighth time (indoor and outdoor) in his career.