NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has named University of New Mexico head track and field coach Joe Franklin as the Mountain Region Women’s Coach of the Year.
Franklin, in his eighth year with the Lobos, coached the New Mexico women to their second straight team title at the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships last month, as the program earned its second consecutive sweep of the MW indoor championships.
The New Mexico women started their streak of winning indoor conference championship behind titles in six events, including the 400-meter run, the 800, the mile, the 5000, the triple jump and the distance medley relay.
The Lobos won the team title handily over Colorado State with a program-record point total, outpacing the field with 149 team points. The women also earned 14 all-conference nods, which ties the indoor program record that was set last year.
Franklin, a native of Greencastle, Ind., is no stranger to accolades, having been selected as the MW Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year the past two years, as well as the MW Men’s Track & Field Coach of the Year the past three years.
This selection is his fourth regional track & field coach honor in his career. He was also named the USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women’s Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2014, and earned the regional men’s coaching honor last year as well.
Franklin will look to continue his success this weekend, as he coaches a program-record seven individuals and a relay team at the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., next Friday and Saturday.