SEWARD, Neb. – Another dominant conference meet for Concordia University Women’s Track & Field has led to another coaching award for Matt Beisel. On Friday (May 19), the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recognized Beisel as the 2023 NAIA Midwest Region Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year. This outdoor season, Beisel also garnered the Jim McMahon GPAC Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year honor. The USTFCCCA designates five separate regions of the NAIA in its list of awards for the 2023 outdoor season.
Currently in his seventh season heading the cross country and track & field programs, Beisel has collected his eighth career Midwest Region Coach of the Year accolade. The award comes on the heels of the Bulldog women’s track program capturing its ninth GPAC title in a row. Concordia ran away with the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Championships while piling up 244.5 team points. Conference event champions on the women’s side were the 4x100 meter relay, 4x400 meter relay, Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Rylee Haecker (1,500 meters), Hannah Newton (high jump), Josie Puelz (pole vault) and Amy Richert (heptathlon). Just a freshman, Adrianna Rodencal was honored as the GPAC Athlete of the Year for both indoor and outdoor. A total of 34 Concordia women’s athletes earned All-GPAC honors in one or more events. The women’s program leads all NAIA programs with 25 athletes headed to Marion, Ind., for the outdoor national meet.
Beisel has been honored with 10 career GPAC Coach of the Year awards (including one in cross country). During Beisel’s tenure, the women’s track and field program has placed 12th or better at every single national meet (12 total). In 2022, the Bulldog women placed third in the NAIA for indoor and fourth for outdoor, earning team trophies at both national meets. Along the way, Beisel’s staff for his entire tenure has included assistants Ed McLaughlin, Mark Samuels and Jason Berry. In addition, Ben Hinckfoot joined the staff in January 2021. Maddie Robinson currently serves as a graduate assistant coach.
Beisel and the Bulldogs are preparing for the national outdoor meet, which will take place in Marion, Ind., May 24-26.