USTFCCCA Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS - Colorado School of Mines track & field coaches Matt Sparks and Scott Van Sickle have earned regional honors from the USTFCCCA, announced Friday.

Sparks was named the South Central Region's Men's Head Coach of the Year, while Van Sickle was named the South Central Region's Men's Assistant Coach of the Year after a successful indoor season wrapped up last weekend. 

Sparks, in his 12th year as the Orediggers' head coach, led the men's team to a best-ever third-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, earning First-Team All-America honors in six events including three silver medals. Mines also finished in second at the RMAC Indoor Championships despite scoring its most points ever with 160, winning six men's events.

Van Sickle guided the Oredigger middle distance runners to a resurgent 2025 season, coaching new program records in the 400m, 4x400 relay, and distance medley relay. His runners contributed greatly to the Orediggers' RMAC and NCAA success as Jonah Fallon and Tim Thompson won the RMAC titles at 400m and 800m, respectively, and the DMR finished on the NCAA podium in fifth place. 

Mines has begun the outdoor season, and is competing this weekend at CSU Pueblo's Dr. Dan Caprioglio Invitational.