Compton named Mideast Region Assistant Coach of the Year

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas assistant coach Bryan Compton was named the United States Track Coaches Association’s Mideast Region Assistant Coach of the Year at the organization’s annual dinner held last week at the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships in Sacramento, Calif.

Compton has been with Arkansas for the past seven years and has been a part of all six of Arkansas’ Southeastern Conference indoor and outdoor track championships contributing with numerous conference champions. Compton’s honor is the second assistant coach of the year honor for the Lady Razorbacks in the past two years as Associate Head Coach Rolando Greene was named national assistant coach of the year in 2004.

“This award goes right along with what I’ve been saying for the past several years – I am surrounded by the best staff in the country,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “Bryan has worked very hard over the past several years and he certainly earned this. I speak for myself, the rest of the staff and everyone on the team when I say congratulations to Bryan on a well deserved honor.”

“I am flattered by this honor and that the coaches’ association felt that I deserved it,” Compton said. “This was definitely unexpected and all the credit goes to the athletes that have worked so hard to achieve their goals. All I am trying to do is help them in their endeavors.”

This season, Compton coached sophomore pole vaulter Stacie Manuel to a pair of all-America honors. Senior thrower Brandy Blackwood also broke Arkansas school records in the weight and hammer throws. During the outdoor season, all of his event athletes qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional including four pole vaulters.

Over the course of Compton’s seven years with the Lady Razorbacks his athletes earned 19 all-America honors, nine SEC Champions and broke 12 Lady Razorback school records a total of 59 times.

His most significant impact is in the pole vault where both current and former Lady Razorbacks thrived under his expertise. Compton’s pole vaulters have won three SEC Championships and added a pair of runner-up finishes, and taken 10 all-America honors. He also coached Arkansas’ first conference titlists in the throws, vault and high jump since taking over Arkansas’ throws and vaulters in 1998.

For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.