McDonnell Earns Two More Awards; Balumbu Picks up Freshman Honor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Legendary Arkansas coach John McDonnell added two more coach of the year awards to his resume and Razorback freshman Nkosinza Balumbu picked up his second-consecutive Southeastern Conference freshman field event athlete of the year accolade on Wednesday.

McDonnell was named both the 2006 NCAA Mideast Region Coach of the Year and the 2006 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year by different organizations on the same day. McDonnell earned the regional honor from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. McDonnell also garnered the league award in a vote of his peers after leading the Razorbacks to their 79th conference crown in school history in Fayetteville last month.

The most successful coach in any sport in NCAA history has now racked up 30 national coach of the year honors in his 34-year tenure. McDonnell has also been the recipient of 59 district and 44 league coach of the year accolades.

Balumbu was selected by SEC coaches as the top freshman field event athlete in the outdoor season. The Union City, Calif., won the league crown in the triple jump with a season-best effort of 53-4 1/2. Balumbu won the same award for the indoor season after finishing second and fifth at the SEC and NCAA Indoor Championships, respectively. The Razorback rookie is slated to compete in the triple jump at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento.

2006 Mideast Region Men’s Track and Field Coach of the Year

John McDonnell, Arkansas

2006 SEC Men’s Track and Field Coach of the Year

John McDonnell, Arkansas

2006 SEC Freshman Male Field Event Athlete of the Year

Nkosinza Balumbu, Arkansas