Colligan Named Regional Throws Coach of the Year

Nebraska’s Mark Colligan was honored as one of the nation’s top assistant track and field coaches recently, as the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association tabbed him as Midwest Regional Women’s Throws Coach of the Year.

Colligan guided his Husker women’s throwers to another successful season in 2006, as the group combined for four NCAA All-America finishes, three individual Big 12 titles and one national championship. The group’s top 2006 achievement came over the weekend, when junior Dace Ruskule won her first NCAA discus title in Sacramento, Calif. Teammates Becky Breisch and Kayla Wilkinson added runner-up finishes in the shot put and javelin, respectively. NU’s three women’s throwers alone accounted for 26 of Nebraska’s 37 team points to help the Huskers finish tied for fourth place.

Now in his 20th season as a member of the Nebraska track and field coaching staff, Colligan has helped turn NU into a top destination for some of the world’s most talented throwers. He has guided 34 athletes to the NCAA Championships, five reaching the highest level by combining for 12 individual NCAA titles. In addition to his current pupils, Colligan has coached former Husker standouts Carl Myerscough (four NCAA titles), Tressa Thompson (three titles) and Kevin Coleman (two titles) to NCAA champion careers. Breisch, who concluded her Nebraska career as a 10-time All-American, also won the USATF discus crown last summer under Colligan’s watch.

The USTFCCCA annually honors the top track and field assistant coaches in the four regions (East, Midwest, Mideast and West) in the following categories: men’s and women’s throws, distances, sprints/hurdles and jumps/combined. Arizona State’s David Dumble claimed honors as the nation’s top women’s throws coach for the 2006 season.

Midwest Region Assistant Coaches of the Year
Sprints/Hurdles (W): Vince Anderson, Texas A&M
Springs Hurdles (M): Mike Ford, Baylor
Distance (W): Randy Hasenback, Wichita State
Distance (M): Paul Ereang, Texas-El Paso
Jumps/Combined Events (W): Jim VanHootegen, Texas A&M
Jumps/Combined Events (M): Mario Santegna, Texas
Throws (W): Mark Colligan, Nebraska
Throws (M): Mario Santegna, Texas