Osanitsch Earns Second Coach of the Year Honor

Mar. 30, 2006

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Shippensburg University first-year head track and field coach Dave Osanitsch received his second coach of the year honor on Thursday when he was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Men's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.

Earlier this month, Osanitsch was named NCAA Division II Men's Indoor Track and Field East Region Coach of the Year by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

After four years as an assistant coach, Osanitsch was named as the new head coach of the men's and women's track and field teams at Shippensburg University on July 11, 2005, succeeding current Shippensburg men's and women's cross country head coach Steve Spence who decided to step down in order to concentrate on building a prominent cross country program.

In his first season, Osanitsch led the men's indoor track and field team to its second consecutive PSAC championship. Shippensburg totaled 144 points in winning the title, 29 points ahead of second-place Lock Haven University.  The Red Raiders claimed four first-place showings, five runners-up and a pair of runner-up relay finishes.

Currently in his eighth year as a track and field coach at the college level for the 2005-06 season, he returned to his alma mater in 2002 as an assistant coach, working primarily with the jumpers and multi-event athletes, a role he continues as the head coach.

Since Osanitsch's arrival at Shippensburg, the jumps squad has garnered 13 individual PSAC championships and All-conference honors. He has also produced 11 NCAA Division II Championship provisional qualifiers and five All-Americans.

Shippensburg opens the 2006 outdoor season on Friday, March 17 at the Ram Invitational in Richmond, Virginia hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University.

- Red Raider Track and Field -