John Wallin Has Led SCSU Men's Track & Field to Impressive Heights

Posted: Mar 09, 2021

Now in his 11th season as the head coach of men’s track and field at Southern Connecticut State University, John Wallin has established himself as one of the top coaches in the Northeast-10 regardless of sport. He has kept the Owls atop the conference hierarchy and continued a legacy of success, leading the most storied Division II track program in New England.

"I am truly honored, and humbled to be recognized by the NE10, and SCSU as one of the top coaches in the NE10,” Wallin said. “I’d like to thank my administration for unparalleled support, and I believe these awards are achieved through the efforts of many, therefore I share this award with my colleagues, Melissa Stoll, Brian Nill, GiGi Nixon, Joseph Caraciolo, and Kade Amster. Of course our amazing student-athletes are the real winners, and all awards are achieved through their selfless efforts!”

During Wallin’s first 10 seasons the team’s success is unapparelled in the NE10. The Owls have won seven NE10 Men’s Indoor Championships, including the last four, as well as the last three NE10 Outdoor Championships and eight overall. Last year, the Owls scored 242.5 points at the 2020 NE10 Championships, the second-most points ever scored by a school during an indoor conference championship meet, and won by over 100 points. During the 2018-19 academic year, Wallin guided the men’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams to conference championship sweep, becoming the second program in the last 20 years to achieve that feat. Cross country claimed its first title in program history while both track & field programs also won. In addition to conference success, Wallin has led Southern to one New England Indoor Championship and five New England Outdoor Championships over ten seasons.

Personally Wallin has eight times been recognized as NE10 Indoor Coach of the Year, and eight more times as NE10 Outdoor Coach of the Year. Wallin has also been named USTFCCCA East Region Indoor Coach of the Year on seven occasions, and East Region Outdoor Coach of the Year eight times.

Individually, Wallin has coached 77 All-Americans as a head coach and helped guide Nick Lebron to NCAA National Championships in the heptathlon in 2012 and 2014, the program’s first individual national championship since 1998. Furthermore, during the indoor seasons, Wallin has coached four Field Athletes of the Year, one Track Rookie of the Year, two Field Rookies of the Year, and one Track and Field Rookie of the Year.

On the outdoor front, he has coached one Track Athlete of the Year, four Field Athletes of the Year, one Track and Field Athlete of the Year, two Track Rookies of the Year, one Field Rookie of the Year, and one Track and Field Rookie of the Year.

Wallin’s student-athletes have also shined in the classroom. Under his watch, there have been 42 NE10 Academic All-Conference selections, four NE10 Scholar-Athlete Sports Excellence Award winners, and two Elite 24 award recipients.

Prior to becoming Southern’s head coach, Wallin served as an assistant coach for the Owls during the 2009-2010 season. He was named USTFCCCA Men’s Regional Assistant Coach that season and helped Southern to the 2010 NE10 men’s indoor and outdoor Conference Championships and the Metropolitan Outdoor Championships for the first time in program history.

A 1999 graduate of Southern Connecticut, Wallin earned All-American honors in the decathlon as a junior and senior, while also qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a sophomore. Wallin was a conference champion in the 55-meter hurdles as senior as well.

John Wallin Links of Note:

ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.