Michael Smith, Northern Arizona: 2020 NCAA Division I Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year

Michael Smith of Northern Arizona was named the National Men’s Coach of the Year for the 2020 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

This is the first time that a coach from a non-Power 5 Conference earned this honor in award history, dating back to at least 1994. Smith isn’t a stranger to being deservedly among the nation’s best coaches: He has twice earned National Men’s Coach of the Year honors in cross country after the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Smith’s Lumberjacks dotted the top of the Descending Order List in each distance event and in turn, were a mainstay among the top-5 teams in the National TFRI. NAU owned the top-3 spots in the 3000, five of the top-16 spots in the 5000 (No. 1, No. 4, No. 12, No. 13, No. 16) and had the seventh-seeded miler. All of those athletes in the 3000 achieved all-time top-15 marks (Luis Grijalva, No. 7; Geordie Beamish, No. 8; Tyler Day, No. 12), while one of those (Tyler Day) also became the third fastest collegian all-time over 5000 meters.