March 17, 2011
NEW ORLEANS - For the second time in three seasons Texas A&M assistant coach Vince Anderson has been named NCAA Division I indoor women's National Assistant Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Florida's Dick Booth received the men's honor.
The Aggie sprinters scored all 32 points A&M totaled in placing fifth at the recent NCAA Indoor Championships and claimed victories in the 400 meters and 4 x 400 relay while finishing second and fifth in the 200 meters.
Jessica Beard became Texas A&M's first female individual NCAA Indoor champion when she won the 400 meters with a time of 50.79 seconds, which ranks second collegiately and third on the American all-time lists as well as being the world leading mark for 2011.
In claiming the 4 x 400 relay Anderson's sprint crew of Jeneba Tarmoh, Ibukun Mayungbe, Andrea Sutherland and Beard won A&M's second title in the event. The first NCAA championship came two years ago when the Aggies also hosted the NCAA Indoor. The winning time of 3:29.72 ranks eighth collegiately and makes Texas A&M the fifth fastest school ever.
Tarmoh added a silver medal in the 200 as she equaled her career best of 22.88 while Dominique Duncan posted a personal best 23.03.
During the Big 12 Championships, where the Aggies finished second with 101 points, the sprint and hurdle crew totaled 84 points. The A&M sprinters won the 200, 400 and 4 x 400 relay while placing second in the 60, 200 and 60 hurdles. Beard and Tarmoh shared high-point honors as they scored 20 ½ points each.
Prior to being named the National Assistant Coach of the Year, Anderson also received the South Central regional honor for the fifth consecutive season, which includes the award given during the outdoor season.
In addition to being honored with the indoor national coaching award for the second time, Anderson has also garnered the outdoor national coaching honor six times from the 2003 season through 2010.