NEW ORLEANS, La. - Days removed from finishing as the national runner-up at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships, long time Washington University in St. Louis women's track and field assistant coach,
Gordon Reiter, has been named the National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. The accolade, announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA), was released on Tuesday, March 12.
These awards were voted on by USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Virginia Beach, Virginia, based off performances at that meet, as well as throughout the rest of the season.
Only athletes and coaches from member institutions are eligible to win awards.
Reiter, who is in his 11th season as assistant coach at WashU, primarily works with the middle distance runners, including the 800m, distance medley relay (DMR), and the 4x4 relays.
At the Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Virginia Beach this past weekend, Reiter led WashU's athletes to score 26 of the Bears' 49 total points.
Emma Kelley, who is observed under the watchful eye of Reiter, claimed the 800-meter title with a new NCAA Division III indoor record time of 2:04.13. Kelley won the crown by nearly four seconds.
Additionally, Reiter's 4x400 relay team secured second in the event. Also, WashU's DMR team spun a sixth-place finish.
Ahead of the championships, Reiter's middle distance runners checked in first, second, and fourth nationally in the 800-meter event.
Reiter, one of the best in the business, was the cross country and track & field head coach at Missouri Baptist University (MBU) before joining WashU. He coached 11 NAIA All-Americans, including PanAmerican 400m hurdler, Junior Hines, and nine-time All-American, Olympic trials steeplechase (B) qualifer, Meagan Hudson. During his five years at MBU, he was named AMC Cross Country Coach of the Year (2008) and MBU Athletics Coach of the Year (2010).
Reiter also served as the cross country and track & field head coach at Maryville University from 2003-05. He also was a coach of Parkway South High School for 28 years where he helped develop many Missouri All-State athletes, while serving as a physical education and health instructor at Sorrento Springs Elementary.
From 1973-2002, Reiter was a physical education teacher/track and field coach in the Parkway School District. Reiter developed many All-State athletes whiles coaching at Parkway Central and Parkway South high schools.
Reiter was a graduate assistant cross country and track and field coach at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) from 1972-73.
Reiter is a 1972 SEMO graduate with a bachelors degree in physical education and heath, and went on to obtain his masters in teaching, physical education, and recreation in 1976.
In 2013, Reiter was selected into the Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Reiter's middle distance runners will return to the track next Saturday, March 23, as WashU will host the WashU Triangular.
