Sept. 30, 2004

KINGSTON, R.I. - University of Rhode Island men's track & field coach John Copeland was named 2003-04 New England Track & Field Men's Coach of the Year after leading the Rams to their second-straight New England Outdoor Championship and a runner-up finish at the 2004 New England Indoor Championships.

This is the third time Copeland has been named New England Coach of the Year. He had already been named 2004 Atlantic 10 Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year and 2004 NCAA Northeast Regional Coach of the Year by the United States Track & Field Coaches Association.

Along with their New England Outdoor title in 2004, the Rams won their fourth-consecutive Atlantic 10 Outdoor Track & Field Championship and third Atlantic 10 Indoor title in the last four years. Rhody posted its highest finish in over 22 years at the Outdoor ICAAAAs, taking fifth out of 115 teams.

Copeland is in his 22nd year as the men's track & field and cross country coach at the University of Rhode Island. The Rams have won seven Atlantic 10 titles and four New England championships during his tenure.

Copeland's teams have finished in the top 10 in New England better than 90-percent of the time and he has coach six Division I All-Americans, 33 NCAA Championship Track & Field qualifiers and 75 individual New England champions.