NEW ORLEANS — Pittsburg State University head track & field coach Kyle Rutledge swept NCAA Division II Coach of the Year honors for men's and women's indoor track & field as announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Wednesday (Mar. 25).

Rutledge, in his fifth year as Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to a sweep of the men's and women's team titles at the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, marking the second straight year the Gorillas accomplished that feat.

Rutledge led the Pitt State men to the team title with event wins in the 60 meters, mile and distance medley relay. The Gorillas scored 75.5 points in the Indoor Championships to beat second place Grand Valley State University by 24 points (51.5 pts). Pitt State also won the team title at the MIAA Indoor Championships, winning 10 events while scoring a meet-record 225 points.

The Pitt State women claimed a pair of event victories – in the pole vault and the high jump – while earning 21 All-America honors. The Gorillas compiled 69.5 points in the two-day meet at Virginia Beach, Va., besting second place West Texas A&M University by 10.5 points (59 pts). Pitt State also won the team title at the MIAA Indoor Championships, claiming eight event victories with 22 All-MIAA performances.

Since becoming the head coach of the Pittsburg State University cross country and track & field programs on June 7, 2021, Rutledge has led the Gorillas to 11 NCAA Division II National Championships (8 men, 3 women) and 25 MIAA crowns program-wide (10 MTF, 2 MXC, 9 WTF, 4 WXC).

Rutledge has been named the NCAA Division II Men's Track & Field Coach of the Year eight times in the last five years:  2022 Outdoor, 2023 Indoor & 2023 Outdoor, 2024 Indoor & 2024 Outdoor, 2025 Indoor & 2025 Outdoor, 2026 Indoor. Additionally, he has garnered NCAA Division II Women's Track & Field Coach of the Year accolades three:  2024 Outdoor, 2025 Indoor and 2026 Indoor.