NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Wartburg College head track and field coach Marcus Newsom as the 2026 Women's Midwest Region Outdoor Coach of the Year.

The honor marks Newsom's seventh USTFCCCA Women's Outdoor Region Coach of the Year accolade and the 18th regional coaching award of his career between the indoor and outdoor seasons - first since 2013. 

Under Newsom's direction, the Knights captured their 26th American Rivers Conference women's outdoor championship with 268 points, winning the league title by 99 points. Wartburg also placed 17th in the team standings at the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships while earning 11 All-America honors, including seven First-Team selections. Newsom was named USTFCCCA's Indoor Women's Midwest Region Head Coach of the Year earlier this season, and took home A-R-C Women's Coaching Staff of the Year honors for the 22nd time in program history.

Since taking over the Wartburg track and field program in 1998, Newsom has guided the Knights to 287 women's outdoor All-America honors.

USTFCCCA REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR (Women)
2003 Marcus Newsom
2007 Marcus Newsom
2010 Marcus Newsom
2011 Marcus Newsom
2012 Marcus Newsom
2013 Marcus Newsom
2026 Marcus Newsom

Each of the ten regions – Great Lakes, Metro, Mid-Atlantic, Mideast, Midwest, Niagara, North, Northeast, South, West – honored both genders' top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches.

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.