Bowling Green State University Athletics
Derrick Vicars Named Track And Field Throws Coach
October 10, 2016 | Women's Track and Field
Bowling Green, Ohio – Bowling Green State University Head Track and Field Coach Lou Snelling has announced that Derrick Vicars has been named Throws Coach at BGSU. Vicars comes to Bowling Green after serving in the same position at Findlay.
Vicars has been in a coaching role at Findlay since 2013. He has been the team's throws coach since 2015 and was a graduate assistant for two years prior to that, garnering several national awards during his tenure. He was tabbed the 2015 Indoor and Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Since his arrival at Findlay, he coached four NCAA Division II national champions and 21 first team All-Americans. His throwers were also national runner-ups four times and his group helped Findlay to team national runner-up results in both the indoor and outdoor 2015 seasons.
"I am excited to join and become part of the track and field program at Bowling Green," Vicars said. "I would like to thank Lou Snelling and the rest of the hiring committee for the opportunity to coach the talented group of throwers that former coach (Matt) Conley has put together here at BG. I am looking forward to getting started and can't wait to become a Falcon!"
Bowling Green has sent a thrower to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships for four straight years. Brooke Pleger advanced in the hammer throw in 2013, 2014 and 2015, placing third in the country twice and being a three-time first team All-American. Aliyah Gustafson, a redshirt junior this year, qualified for the national championships in 2016 in the shot put and won the MAC outdoor championship. Half of BGSU's 52 points at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships came from the throws in 2016.
Vicars was a thrower at Findlay, capturing the NCAA Division II national championship in the shot put during the 2012 outdoor season and in the discus during the 2010 outdoor season. He was the 2012 and 2013 GLIAC Field Athlete of the Year, as well as the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year. In total, he was an 11-time NCAA Division II All-American.
"Derrick is one of the best young throws coaches in the country," Snelling said. "Both his athletic and coaching resume are impressive. He is completely grounded in our state and Northwest Ohio specifically. This is a great fit all around. Derrick will continue the tradition of a strong throws group at Bowling Green and help our team continue its consistent improvement."
Vicars earned his bachelor's degree as an intervention specialist major from Findlay in 2012 and his master's degree in education in 2015.
Vicars has been in a coaching role at Findlay since 2013. He has been the team's throws coach since 2015 and was a graduate assistant for two years prior to that, garnering several national awards during his tenure. He was tabbed the 2015 Indoor and Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Since his arrival at Findlay, he coached four NCAA Division II national champions and 21 first team All-Americans. His throwers were also national runner-ups four times and his group helped Findlay to team national runner-up results in both the indoor and outdoor 2015 seasons.
"I am excited to join and become part of the track and field program at Bowling Green," Vicars said. "I would like to thank Lou Snelling and the rest of the hiring committee for the opportunity to coach the talented group of throwers that former coach (Matt) Conley has put together here at BG. I am looking forward to getting started and can't wait to become a Falcon!"
Bowling Green has sent a thrower to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships for four straight years. Brooke Pleger advanced in the hammer throw in 2013, 2014 and 2015, placing third in the country twice and being a three-time first team All-American. Aliyah Gustafson, a redshirt junior this year, qualified for the national championships in 2016 in the shot put and won the MAC outdoor championship. Half of BGSU's 52 points at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships came from the throws in 2016.
Vicars was a thrower at Findlay, capturing the NCAA Division II national championship in the shot put during the 2012 outdoor season and in the discus during the 2010 outdoor season. He was the 2012 and 2013 GLIAC Field Athlete of the Year, as well as the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year. In total, he was an 11-time NCAA Division II All-American.
"Derrick is one of the best young throws coaches in the country," Snelling said. "Both his athletic and coaching resume are impressive. He is completely grounded in our state and Northwest Ohio specifically. This is a great fit all around. Derrick will continue the tradition of a strong throws group at Bowling Green and help our team continue its consistent improvement."
Vicars earned his bachelor's degree as an intervention specialist major from Findlay in 2012 and his master's degree in education in 2015.
Players Mentioned
Throws
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