Marietta's Stanley named USTFCCCA Great Lakes Regional Women's Coach of the Year
Sixth-year coach guided Pioneer women to great improvement during indoor season

March 12, 2009
NEW ORLEANS, La. — The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its 2009 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year on Wednesday (March 11), and Marietta College Head Coach Derek Stanley earned Women’s Coach of the Year honors in the Great Lakes Region. [USTFCCCA release]

Under Stanley’s tutelage, Marietta female student-athletes broke 13 school records during this year’s indoor track & field season. Stanley, now in his sixth year with the Pioneers, guided the women to a fourth place finish at the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship after placing seventh a year ago. Additionally, the Pioneer women improved upon last year’s sixth place finish at the OAC Indoor Relays, registering a third place score this season. Marietta also took fourth place at the All-Ohio Indoor Championship in 2009, climbing from 10th in 2008.

“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 now turn most of their attention to the outdoor season, which will culminate with Marietta’s hosting to the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship. The Pioneers begin their outdoor schedule this weekend when they compete at the Coastal Carolina Invitational. Senior standout Brian Pallini (Medina), however, continues his indoor season when he competes in the Weight Throw at the 2009 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship, which is being hosted by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind. Pallini, ranked sixth heading into the event, will compete on Friday (March 13) at 2:30 p.m. Results will be posted immediately after the event at http://www.raceberryjam.com/indexid.html.

Head Coach Derek Stanley was named the Great Lakes Region Indoor Women's Coach of the Year.