Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Sue Parks Named Great Lakes Men's Coach of the Year
3/17/2022 3:53:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Parks picked up honors for second time while at Eastern Michigan
NEW ORLEANS, La. (EMUEagles.com) -- Director/Head Coach Sue Parks was named the Great Lakes Region Men's Coach of the Year for the 2022 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field season announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) today, March 17.
"It's an honor to be recognized," said Parks. "It shows the hard work of the coaching staff, and the athletes. The award belongs to the entire program."
Member coaches voted on these honors following the completion of the 2022 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, but considered performances from both that meet as well as during the regular season.
Parks has received the award one other time in her career, being named Great Lakes Region Women's Coach of the year in 2018. In her 12th year at the helm of Eastern Michigan's women's program, Parks led her team to its fifth Mid-American Conference title, thanks to seven first-place finishes.
After a successful cross country season in which EMU's men's cross country team captured its third-straight Mid-American Conference Championship, Parks helped guide the men's indoor track & field team to its second consecutive league crown. At the conference meet, Eastern topped Akron, 166-156, Feb. 27, highlighted by 77 points from the Eagles' distance crew. Following the victory, Parks was named MAC Men's Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
The indoor season continued as graduate student Taige Bryant (Edmond, Okla.-Edmond Memorial) and junior Newlyn Stephenson (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy) advanced to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the weight throw. At the national meet, Bryant picked up First Team All-American honors after finishing sixth with a toss of 22.21m. Stephenson produced a heave of 21.52m for eleventh, earning him Second Team All-American status.
With the indoor season now over for Eastern, the Eagles will turn their attention to outdoors. The first outdoor meet is set for March 24-26 at the Raleigh Relays, hosted by North Carolina State University. Meanwhile, other members of the Green and Yellow will head to Coral Gables, Fla. for the University of Miami's Hurricane Collegiate Invitational, March 26. Meet time is set for 10:30 a.m. For updates on all things EMU cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
"It's an honor to be recognized," said Parks. "It shows the hard work of the coaching staff, and the athletes. The award belongs to the entire program."
Member coaches voted on these honors following the completion of the 2022 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, but considered performances from both that meet as well as during the regular season.
Parks has received the award one other time in her career, being named Great Lakes Region Women's Coach of the year in 2018. In her 12th year at the helm of Eastern Michigan's women's program, Parks led her team to its fifth Mid-American Conference title, thanks to seven first-place finishes.
After a successful cross country season in which EMU's men's cross country team captured its third-straight Mid-American Conference Championship, Parks helped guide the men's indoor track & field team to its second consecutive league crown. At the conference meet, Eastern topped Akron, 166-156, Feb. 27, highlighted by 77 points from the Eagles' distance crew. Following the victory, Parks was named MAC Men's Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
The indoor season continued as graduate student Taige Bryant (Edmond, Okla.-Edmond Memorial) and junior Newlyn Stephenson (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy) advanced to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the weight throw. At the national meet, Bryant picked up First Team All-American honors after finishing sixth with a toss of 22.21m. Stephenson produced a heave of 21.52m for eleventh, earning him Second Team All-American status.
With the indoor season now over for Eastern, the Eagles will turn their attention to outdoors. The first outdoor meet is set for March 24-26 at the Raleigh Relays, hosted by North Carolina State University. Meanwhile, other members of the Green and Yellow will head to Coral Gables, Fla. for the University of Miami's Hurricane Collegiate Invitational, March 26. Meet time is set for 10:30 a.m. For updates on all things EMU cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & FieldNew Outdoor Track & Field Facility Ribbon Cutting
Tuesday, September 23
Track & Field at 2025 Spartan Invitational
Tuesday, April 08
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Cinematic Recap
Wednesday, March 05
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 1 Highlights
Saturday, March 01