SEWARD, Neb. – Known nationally as one of the top throws coaches, Concordia University’s Ed McLaughlin has picked up another award from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The organization named McLaughlin its 2022 NAIA Midwest Region Women’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year on Friday (May 20). McLaughin has received this award for the 11th time in his career. Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches.
The throws group has played a large hand in the success overall of Concordia Women’s Track & Field, which has won seven-straight GPAC titles. Among the highlights this outdoor season for McLaughlin’s bunch, Sarah Ragland won the GPAC hammer throw title and 10 Bulldogs garnered all-conference placements in one or more throwing events. Seven women’s throwers will represent Concordia at the NAIA outdoor national meet: Morgan De Jong, Abby Gerber, Sara Huss, Alli Owings, Erin Painter, Kamryn Pokorney and Ragland. McLaughlin oversees a group that boasts No. 1 NAIA event squad ratings in the shot put, discus and hammer.
Not only has McLaughlin earned 11 regional coaching awards from the USTFCCCA, he’s also been named an NAIA National Assistant Coach of the Year six times. During his time at Concordia, McLaughlin has coached Bulldog throwers to 19 individual national titles and to 24 NAIA national runner up claims.
McLaughlin and company are readying to close the 2022 outdoor season next week at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. They will run May 25-27 in Gulf Shores, Ala.