May 28, 2003
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State track and field head coach Rahn Sheffield has been named the Mondo West District Women's Coach of the Year, the U.S. Track Coaches Association (USTCA) announced Wednesday.
Sheffield, in his 12th year as head coach, has directed SDSU to one of its best seasons in program history. Two weeks ago, the Aztecs claimed their first ever Mountain West Conference (MWC) outdoor championship, breaking Brigham Young's nation's best streak of 20 straight league outdoor titles, dating back to 1983.
San Diego State also finished first at the San Diego City Championships and the Cal-Nevada Championships, elevating to as high as third in the USTCA power rankings. Sheffield has earned two other coaching awards in 2003, grabbing both Cal-Nevada and MWC Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career.
This is the first year that the USTCA has named district coaches of the year. Prior to this season, coaches were honored by the USTCA at only the regional and national levels. Four regional coaches of the year will be selected after this weekend's NCAA regional meets.
2003 SDSU Track & Field Team Highlights
- First-Ever Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track and Field Title - Runner-up at the 2003 MWC indoor championships (best-ever finish) - 13 NCAA outdoor regional qualifiers - One NCAA indoor championship participant - First Place - Cal-Nevada Championships - First Place - San Diego City Championships - Five MWC Athlete of the Week awards - As high as No. 3 in the USTCA national team power rankings