The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) announced its national awards for the outdoor track and field season and Dordt University coach Nate Wolf was named the men’s assistant coach of the year.
This is the third national honor Wolf has received for the 2022-23 athletic year, as he was named NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year last fall as well as the top assistant coach for the indoor season.
Wolf, in his eighth season as the Defenders assistant track and field coach, played a significant role in leading Dordt University to a fifth place finish at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships held last week in Marion, Ind. Under Wolf’s tutelage, four Defenders, Peter Shippy, Thaniel Schroeder, Joe Anderson and Grant Brouwer (High Jump), earned All-American honors in their respective event, including Shippy, who won the national title in the 3000m steeplechase. Dordt’s 4×800 relay finished fifth and also took home All-American honors.
The Defenders distance crew had a memorable 2022-23 year, winning the NAIA cross country championship last fall, as well playing a huge roll in the track and field team’s success during both the indoor (3rd place finish) and outdoor (5th place finish) seasons. Specifically for this outdoor season, Wolf’s distance crew claimed GPAC titles in the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m and Defender athletes finished 1st-3rd in the 5K. In addition, Dordt’s distance medley team of Thaniel Schroeder, Levi Schelhaas, Peyton Miller and Trey Engen set the NAIA record with a time of 10:03.35 in the final day of the Drake Relays.
