DES MOINES, Iowa (August 28, 2023) – At the 2023 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa, AAU Track and Field had the opportunity to showcase some of the people who make our sport special. Coaches, Clubs, and an Official were recognized for their hard work and dedication throughout the entire AAU Track and Field season.
 
AAU Track and Field’s National Chair, Charles “Coach O” Oliver, joined Coach Nicole Lincoln, a 2-time AAU Coach of the Year to present the winners.
 
The 2023 AAU Zone Coach of the Year award is in recognition of the outstanding coaching of youth athletes.  The Zone winners were:

Zone A Coach of the Year recipient is an advocate for AAU Track and Field and its impact on the development of Youth athletes, the head coach and co-founder of Columbus Panthers Track Club out of Ohio, an active community member - church, counseling, and Chairman of Ohio AAU Track & Field. The 2023 Zone A Coach of the Year is awarded to DeCarlo Blackwell.
 
Zone B Coach of the Year recipient has 20+ years of coaching with 15 years of those years as an AAU coach, has coached athletes to win national championships as well as All American Honors on all different levels, is considered by many an  AAU Game changer who brings a level of excellence to AAU district, regional, and national events, partners with community businesses and organizations to provide additional opportunities for youths, Chairman of North Carolina AAU Track & Field, the head coach and founder of Charlotte Heat Track Club. The 2023 Zone B Coach of the Year is awarded to William Bullard
 
Zone C Coach of the Year recipient is an amazing Coach, Father, and Husband, is the head coach of Gary Steelers and also a police officer where he protects and serves the community of Gary, Indiana, has partnered with the American Legion Post and doctors from Methodist Hospital’s ER to support his program and athletes. The 2023 Zone C Coach of the Year is awarded to Morris Smoot
 
Zone D Coach of the Year recipient is a wife, mother, mentor, AAU alumni, and founder/head track coach of the West Coast Elite Track Club, hosts Teen Girls Empowerment Camps that will focus on beauty from the inside out, goes above and beyond to help prepare her athletes for competing at the collegiate level, but more importantly puts them in position to receive athletic scholarship opportunities with a success rate of sending athletes that want to compete at the collegiate level on track scholarship nearly 100%.  The 2023 Zone D Coach of the Year is awarded to Michel Sproles.
 
Taking home the award for the 2023 AAU Track and Field National Coach of the Year was William Bullard.



The 2023 AAU Zone Club of the Year award is a recognition of the outstanding development of Youth athletes.  The Zone Club winners were:

Zone A Club of the Year recipient strives to maximize youths potential on the track, in the classroom and in the community with 10+ years as an AAU club, is a trendsetting club and hosted countless AAU indoor, outdoor and cross country events, sponsors a community sport physical outreach program, provides track scholarships to female high school seniors, sponsors the Track Girls Magic event - a female only track meet, has produced champions on all levels.  The 2023 Zone A Club of the Year goes to Ohio’s Columbus Panthers Track Club
 
Zone B Club of the Year recipient surpasses the traditional notion of a track club and embodies the essence of a tightly-knit family, motivates youths of the Pensacola, Florida and surrounding areas with 20+ years of AAU club membership, has set up a club scholarship program which awards at least 2 scholarships: 1 for male and 1 female, participates in AAU Jr Olympics and Cross Country Nationals with medalists yearly, partnered with Ronald McDonald House and the Council on Aging of NWFL, and sponsored “Breakfast with Santa”. The 2023 Zone B Club of the Year goes to Florida’s Golden Elite Track Club
 
Zone C Club of the Year recipient has 10+ years as an AAU club, teaches the aspects of hard work and commitment, provides youths of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and surrounding areas a positive outlet through track and field with a reputation of producing All-Americans athletes and champions on the local, state, and national level, and partners with Milwaukee businesses and community volunteers to help youths find their greatness through athletic, academic, and leadership development programs. The 2023 Zone C Club of the Year goes to Wisconsin’s Wings of Glory Track Club
 
Zone D Club of the Year recipient gives athletes an opportunity to compete against the very best competition and travel to National events; Outdoor and Indoor All-Americans with athletes competing on a collegiate level; based out of California this club believes there is nothing more satisfying to see then the growth of athletes because of their hard work, provides a positive experience while pushing athletes to be the best version of themselves every day! The 2023 Zone D Club of the Year goes to California’s Havoc Track Club
 
Being recognized as the National Club of the Year was the Columbus Panthers Track Club.
 
The Mary Sparn Official of the Year Award is in recognition of outstanding service as an AAU official.  This year’s recipient was Robert Evans.  Robert started his Volunteer Service in 1990 for JO Games and is an integral part of the success of the AAU Virginia Southern District and Regional meets. He also plays a big part each year in the success of the AAU indoor Nationals in Virginia Beach.


 
Thank you to all of our coaches, participating clubs, and the wonderful officials that volunteer and make AAU Track and Field better than ever.

For more pictures of the AAU Track and Field Awards, click here.