Track & Field | 3/7/2011 5:37:03 PM

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Mike Johnson of Western Oregon University was named the NCAA Division II West Region Men's Head Coach of the Year for the 2011 indoor season by the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA).

Johnson led his team to the GNAC Championship where Western Oregon student-athletes claimed four individual championships and placed in every event except one. The Wolves will be represented at the NCAA Championship meet with their sixth-seeded distance medley relay team. In his eighth season at the helm of the Wolves track & field program, Johnson guided 24 Wolves to the school's all-time top-ten list, which included two school records. WOU had the top performer in the region in four events and closed out the regular season at the top-ranked team in the region.

This was the third USTFCCCA West Region Coach of the Year award for Johnson in the past four seasons, and the 27th coach of the year award in his career.

This weekend, Johnson will be coaching the men's distance medley relay team of Kyle Larson, Matt Kaino, Connor Kasler and Chris Reed, along with Annan Applebee in the 800m at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. Mar. 11-12. The prelims of the women's 800m will be run on Friday (Mar. 11) at 5:50 p.m. (MST), and the DMR will be run later that evening at 7:45 p.m.