Irving named assistant coach of the year

  • Published
  • By Valerie Perkin
  • Athletic Communications
NEW ORLEANS --  Scott Irving, the associate head coach for the Air Force track and field team, was named the Division I Mountain Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. Irving, who coaches the throwing events for the Falcons, is the first Air Force coach to earn such an honor.

Under Irving's direction, the Air Force throwers made a tremendous impact on the women's program during the 2009 outdoor season. Academy records were set in the shot put and hammer throw, while six other top-10 incursions were made in the four throwing events.

The Falcons' throwers, highlighted by a pair of all-conference selections from Sara Neubauer, accounted for 37 of the women's 62 points at the Mountain West Conference Outdoor Championships. Irving guided three Falcons (in five events) to the NCAA Regional Championships, with Neubauer advancing to the National Championships in two events.

The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association selects the top men's and women's track athlete, field athlete, head coach and assistant coach for each of the nine regions (Northeast, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, South, South Central, Southeast and West) in Division I track and field.

Irving is the second member of the Air Force track and field program to earn a regional honor this season, as Nick Frawley was named the Mountain Region Male Field Athlete of the Year during the 2009 indoor season. Former standout Dana Pounds is the only other regional award winner for the Falcons, winning the Midwest Region Female Field Athlete of the Year for the 2006 outdoor season.