NEW ORLEANS, La. – Oregon’s Vin Lananna and Florida’s Mike Holloway were recognized Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as recipients of National Coach of the Year Awards as chosen by the nation’s coaches for the indoor track & field season in Division I.

 NATIONAL WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: Vin Lananna, Oregon

Lananna in his fifth year as Oregon’s Director of Track & Field helped the Ducks capture their first NCAA women’s indoor crown this season. Oregon claimed 61 points in the meet, 25 more than nearest competitor Tennessee. The margin of victory was the largest in NCAA Indoor Championship history since Texas scored 60 points to top the 30 managed by runner-up LSU in 1998. The Ducks claimed two event titles at the national meet, including the school’s first 4x400-meter relay championship. Sophomore Brianne Theisen posted the meet’s top score in the pentathlon for her first NCAA crown. In February, Oregon also claimed their first MPSF Championship.

NATIONAL MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Holloway, Florida

In his sixth season leading the Gators, Holloway led Florida to their first NCAA Indoor Championship team title in school history. With 57 points, UF held off Oregon and Texas A&M who scored 44 in the meet. Gator sophomore Jeff Demps won Florida’s first 60-meter NCAA title in 6.57, and sophomore Christian Taylor took top honors in the triple jump for the second straight year. Taylor would go on to score 18 in the meet, adding a second-place showing in the long jump after being seeded as the 13th entrant. Holloway’s freshman accounted for eight individual points for the Gator run as Tony McQuay notched a third-place performance in the 400 meters and an eighth-place scoring spot at 200 meters.  Earlier in the season, Florida was the runner-up at the SEC Indoor Championships.

Oregon opens the 2010 season by hosting the Oregon Preview on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Historic Hayward Field.

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