Arkansas first program to sweep major coaching awards

March 21, 2023 at 2:00 a.m.

by Bob Holt

Chris Bucknam (right), Arkansas men’s track and field coach, and Lance Harter, women’s track and field coach, speak Monday, March 13, 2023, to a large crowd of athletes, support staff and administrators before staff hoisted a new flag to reflect the combined 49 national championships that the university’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams have won during an informal ceremony at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — It was a sweep for indoor season national honors for four University of Arkansas coaches for the men’s and women’s track and field teams after the Razorbacks swept SEC and NCAA titles.

Chris Bucknam and Travis Geopfert were announced Monday as the men’s coach and assistant of the year and Lance Harter and Chris Johnson were announced as the women’s coach and assistant of the year.

Arkansas became the first school to win all four coaching awards in the same season since the assistant’s honors were added in 2008.

It’s the fifth national indoor award for Harter and third for Johnson, who will succeed Harter as the Razorbacks’ coach after the outdoor season. Harter previously announced he’s retiring in June after the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Bucknam won the national indoor award for the second time and Geopfert won the assistant’s honor for the third time.