Texas A&M's Pat Henry garners men's indoor National Coach of the Year honor

NEW ORLEANS – Honors following the NCAA Indoor Championships included the men's National Coach of the Year accolade for Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry as awarded by the United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
It's the first indoor National Coach of the Year for Henry since 2004, when he claimed his second NCAA Indoor title while at LSU.
 
The third indoor men's national championship team title for Coach Henry came about in dramatic fashion as Texas A&M claimed it's first-ever NCAA Indoor championship by half a point after winning the final event, the 4x400 relay, over team runner-up Florida, who was favored for the national championship heading into the meet.
 
"The way that this championship ended made for a great show," stated Henry. "It was a great meet and I think the people in that building now understand a little bit more about our sport and can appreciate some things a little bit more.
 
"In receiving a Coach of the Year award, I'm proud to represent Texas A&M and our program."
 
Overall, it was the ninth national title for Coach Henry with the Aggies over an eight year span, and the 36^th on the Division I level in his hall of fame career. Among indoor national titles this is Coach Henry's 13^th title, men and women combined, and his third men's title. The other pair of men's indoor team titles came at LSU in 2001 and 2004.
 
"Our people at Texas A&M put on a great meet," noted Henry. "With our infrastructure, our administration, and the help we get from people it made for a great championship. I'm extremely pleased to have it happening at Texas A&M. In the future we will host the SEC Indoor Championships and NCAA Indoor Championships in 2018."
 
The weekend crowd of 7,427 fans witnessed an inclusive team victory for the Aggies as each member of the men's team who qualified for the meet produced points towards the team title. In addition the crowd was treated to multiple record performances – three collegiate records, five NCAA meet records, and 17 facility records.
 
Texas A&M received a boost of 16 points during the first day of the NCAA Indoor Championships as Audie Wyatt and Will Williams upset the forms charts as each earned silver medals, and eight points each, when they weren't expected to score based on their marks heading into the meet.
 
Wyatt improved his school record to 18-2 ½ (5.55) as runner-up in the pole vault while Williams produced an indoor career best of 25-10 ¾ (7.89) for runner-up honors in the long jump.
 
During the second day of the national championship meet, Fred and Mylik Kerley teamed up for 16 more points in the 400m as they placed first and third. Fred improved his school record to 44.85 as Mylik established another career best of 45.75.
 
When Lindon Victor completed the heptathlon in fifth place, another four points was added to the Aggie tally, creating a total of 36 heading into the 4x400 relay. Oregon led the field with 38 points at that point, but didn't have a relay team. Florida had a score of 37.5 with a relay squad and Georgia was at 35.5 sans relay.
 
With a NCAA meet record performance in the relay of 3:02.80, clipping the previous record of 3:02.86 which was a collegiate record when set by Texas A&M in 2015, the Aggies derailed Florida's title hopes as the Gators placed second in 3:03.52.
 
Fred Kerley led off the relay and was followed by Robert Grant, Devin Dixon and Mylik Kerley, who secured the 4x400 win and team victory by reeling the Florida anchor leg in a methodical manner, taking a definitive lead off the final curve.
 
"That's the thing I'm probably the most proud about, is that our team is thinking as a team," said Henry. "They know that their individual effort contributes to the whole. The way you win championships is everybody going into the meet understanding that they are part of what it takes to win a championship.
 
"We won the title in a great facility, first of all, but I wish we were in a place where there were 50,000 or even 100,000 people, then we'd have a whole lot of fans. It was great and was really good for our program."
 
2017 NCAA Indoor Championships – Gilliam Indoor Stadium – Record Recap

• Three collegiate records, five NCAA meet records, 17 facility records 
  Collegiate Records
  Men
  60: (equal) 6.45, Christian Coleman, Tennessee
   
  Women
  4x400: 3:27.03, USC (Pettigrew, Iuel, Hill, Ellis)
  SP: 64-2 ¼ (19.56), Raven Saunders, Mississippi
   
  NCAA Indoor Meet Records
  Men
  60: 6.45, Christian Coleman, Tennessee
  4x400: 3:02.80, Texas A&M (F. Kerley, Grant, Dixon, M. Kerley)
   
  Women
  800: 2:01.09, Raevyn Rogers, Oregon
  4x400: 3:27.03, USC (Pettigrew, Iuel, Hill, Ellis)
  SP: 64-2 ¼ (19.56), Raven Saunders, Mississippi
   
  Gilliam Facility Records
  Men
  60: 6.45, Christian Coleman, Tennessee
  200: 20.11, Christian Coleman, Tennessee
  400: 44.85, Fred Kerley, Texas A&M
  60H: (equal) 7.58, Grant Holloway, Florida
  4x400: 3:02.80, Texas A&M (F. Kerley, Grant, Dixon, M. Kerley)
  PV: 18-8 ¼ (5.70), Chris Nilsen, South Dakota
  SP: 69-9 ½ (21.27), Mostafa Hassan, Colorado State
  Wt: (equal) 75-0 ¾ (22.88), Johnnie Jackson, LSU
   
  Women
  200: 22.42, Ariana Washington, Oregon
  800: 2:01.09, Raevyn Rogers, Oregon
  5,000: 15:19.14, Karissa Schweizer, Missouri
  60H: (equal) 7.87p, Sasha Wallace, Oregon
  4x400: 3:27.03, USC (Pettigrew, Iuel, Hill, Ellis)
  LJ: 22-7 ¾ (6.90), Sha'Keela Saunders, Kentucky
  TJ: 46-3 ½ (14.11), Keturah Orji, Georgia
  SP: 64-2 ¼ (19.56), Raven Saunders, Mississippi
  Pent: 4,682, Kendell Williams, Georgia