NEW ORLEANS, La — The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year on Monday (May 18), and Marietta College Head Coach Derek Stanley earned Women's Coach of the Year honors in the Great Lakes Region. He received the same honor during the 2009 indoor season. [USTFCCCA release]

Under Stanley's tutelage, Marietta female student-athletes broke 11 school records during this year's outdoor track & field season. Stanley, now in his sixth year with the Pioneers, guided the women to a runner-up placement at the 2009 All-Ohio Outdoor Championship and a fifth place finish at the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

Marietta female student-athletes also achieved NCAA provisional qualifying marks for the first time since the program was reinstated in 2002.

“Although it is Regional Head Coach of the Year, I need to give credit to my awesome staff,” Stanley said. “Brent Wilkerson, Felecia Simms and Rick Maib do an outstanding job with our student-athletes, and I am happy to share this award with them.”

Stanley and his staff, as well as the entire Marietta College campus community, are preparing to host the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship, which will take place May 21-23 in Marietta, Ohio.