SEWARD, Neb. – Two coaching awards were bestowed upon Concordia University Track & Field Head Coach Matt Beisel on Thursday (Feb. 23). After being recognized as the 2023 Jim McMahon GPAC Women’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year earlier in the day, Beisel was announced as the 2023 NAIA Midwest Region Women’s Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The USTFCCCA designates five separate regions of the NAIA in its list of awards for the 2023 indoor season.
Currently in his seventh season heading the cross country and track & field programs, Beisel has collected his seventh career Midwest Region Coach of the Year accolade. The award comes on the heels of the Bulldog women’s track program capturing its eighth GPAC title in a row. Concordia dominated the 2023 GPAC Indoor Championships while piling up 241.5 team points. Conference event champions on the women’s side were the 4x400 meter relay, Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Lauren Dawson (race walk), Rylee Haecker (mile and 1,000 meters), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Amy Richert (pentathlon) and Adrianna Rodencal (60 hurdles and 200 meters). Just a freshman, Rodencal was honored as the GPAC Athlete of the Year as the individual who generated the most team points at the conference meet. A total of 36 Concordia women’s athletes earned All-GPAC honors in one or more events.
Beisel has been honored with nine 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 (11 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 indoor meet, which will take place in Brookings, S.D., March 2-4.