The University of Akron Athletics
Mitchell Named Great Lakes Region Men's Coach of the Year
June 08 | Track & Field
AKRON, Ohio – Dennis Mitchell was named Great Lakes Region Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Tuesday.
Mitchell, who is in his 16th season as head coach of The University of Akron men's and women's track and field teams, guided the UA men's program to Mid-American Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2011 and was named MAC Men's Coach of the Year at the conclusion of each season. Tuesday's honor represents the fourth time he has been named Great Lakes Region Outdoor Coach of the Year in total and the second time he has earned the distinction for the men's team.
The Zips men dominated the MAC Outdoor Championships last May, leading wire-to-wire en route to winning their third league championship in four years. In all, Akron captured seven event titles – including MAC Decathlon Champion and Most Outstanding Field Performance award winner Bjorn Johansson – and four runner-up finishes to claim a 33-point victory over second-place Kent State.
Furthermore, UA's men, which finished the season ranked No. 5 in the region, advanced 14 individuals to the NCAA East Regionals and four – Nick Banke (discus), Willie Brown (800-meters), Collister Fahie (long jump) and Johansson (decathlon) – to this week's NCAA Championships. Live results for this week's meet will be available at FlashResults.com. A live video stream can also be found on NCAA.com.
Mitchell is a native of Rialto, Calif., and a 1985 graduate of Abilene Christian University. He has been named MAC Coach of the Year 14 times during his 16-year career.
