FARMINGTON, Utah (May 25, 2021) – Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Mike Smith was voted the Big Sky Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year in an announcement by the league office on Tuesday.
After leading the Lumberjack squads to a Big Sky Conference championship sweep nearly two weeks ago, Smith earns his third outdoor Women's Coach of the Year award and his second outdoor Men's Coach of the Year honor.
With the absence of the 2020 outdoor season and a 2021 indoor season, the Lumberjacks set their sights on success this outdoor season, and were determined to come out on top.
Between the two programs, the Lumberjacks crowned nine event champions at the 2021 Big Sky Outdoor Championships, with five coming from the men's side and four contributed by the women. With these accomplishments, the men secured their 23rd outdoor conference title while women earned their 12th.
Both teams dominated the Big Sky, as the NAU women became only the third women's team in Big Sky history to score at least 200 points at the outdoor track & field championship; the women finished the meet with 201 points with the host, Weber State, in a distant second with 142 points. Meanwhile, the men finished with 168 points, the most by a team at the outdoor meet since NAU's 2016 championship total of 187.
NAU's season will continue at NCAA West Prelims in College Station, Texas from May 26-29.
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