Ogden, Utah (May 16, 2012) - The league’s head outdoor track and field coaches have selected Northern Arizona’s Eric Heins and Sacramento State’s Kathleen Raske as the Big Sky Conference Coaches of the Year.

Hein’s was tabbed for the award after his men’s team broke another conference point total record. Northern Arizona finished with 221 points to break the old championship record of 215.5 set in 2002 by Weber State. NAU also set a meet record at the indoor championships in February.

Not only did the men’s team win the championships, but coach Heins led his team to a perfect trifecta. This is the fourth time in conference history that a team has swept all three championships. NAU also won the cross country title in the fall and the indoor track and field title earlier this year. The other three times were in 1986-87, 1987-88, 2008-09 all by the Lumberjacks. This is the first outdoor COY award for Heins, who took over the program in 2010 from J.W. Hardy.

Jordan Chipangama led the way for the Lumberjacks winning gold in the 1,500 meters, and claimed silver in the 800 meters and 5,000 meters. He earned Most Valuable Athlete after finishing the meet with 26 points.

The Hornet women captured their fifth straight outdoor title under Raske. SAC finished second earlier this season at the indoor championships in Flagstaff, Ariz. Weber State won the meet by a point.

Sacramento State’s won the outdoor meet with 173 points. Host Montana State was second with 121.5 points.

The Hornet women were led by a group of field athletes. Ify Agwuenu was named Most Valuable Athlete with 23 points, only one point more than teammate Baiba Celma. Agwueneu took gold in the shot put, finished second in the discus and fourth in the hammer. Celma won the heptathlon and took third in the javelin and triple jump.

Raske has been named women’s outdoor Coach of the Year five straight times, a first in Big Sky history. Raske has won 12 Coach of the Year honors, including six indoors and six outdoors.