NEW ORLEANS, La. – Northern State University assistant track and field coach Brenda Fuller has been tabbed as the Central Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, which recently released its regional honorees.

Fuller, who is in charge of all throwing events for the Wolves, has coached current NSU junior Amanda Madden to back-to-back All-America finishes in the indoor weight throw.  Madden also had the third best throw in the nation in the hammer throw entering the recently completed NCAA Division II National Outdoor Championships in Angelo, Texas, where she finished second.  The Herreid, S.D. native also qualified for the national meet in the discus during the 2009 outdoor season, but did not compete in that event.

While Fuller’s award is listed as a women’s award, she has also coached redshirt freshman Cody Hunt to stellar debut seasons in the shot put.  Hunt picked up his first career All-America certificate under Fuller’s tutelage during the indoor season after finishing seventh in the shot at the national meet.  He then started off his outdoor season with a monster school record throw in that event, assuring himself of a ticket to the outdoor championships.  Hunt was also named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Newcomer of the Year during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Redshirt freshman Melodi Boke also hit the NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the shot put this season, giving Fuller three total qualifiers for the outdoor national meet.

The recent award comes on the heels of just one of many seasons of success for Fuller.  In 21 years at NSU, she has coached athletes to a staggering number of accomplishments: 69 NSIC titles, 9 All-America certificates, 14 national meet placings and 22 Academic All-America honors.  Included in the conference champions total are 31 shot put, 16 discus, 14 javelin and 8 outdoor hammer/indoor weight throw titles. 

Fuller has also served as a clinician for both the South Dakota and Nebraska High School Coaches Association Clinics.