NEW ORLEANS, La. – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced its 2026 NCAA Division III Regional Coaches of the Year and UMass Dartmouth's
Mike Salem has been recognized. The Corsairs' Director of Track & Field and Cross Country was named the Northeast Region's Men's Coach of the Year.
Salem, who finished his eighth year at the helm of the Corsairs Track & Field/Cross Country programs in 2025-26, led UMass Dartmouth to the team title at the Little East Outdoor Championships – the team's second straight outdoor title and fourth since the 2022 season. The squad went on to earn runner-up honors at the New England DIII Outdoor Championships – tying the 2023 squad for the highest ever finish for the men's program.
Two squad members in sophomore
Ancil Alexander (discus throw and shot put) and freshman
Ewan McLeod (high jump) qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. Alexander took home All-America First Team (7th) honors for the second straight season in the discus, while posting All-America Second Team (9th) in the shot put. Additionally, 12 student-athletes garnered USTFCCCA All-Northeast Region honors across nine different events.
The Corsairs won seven events at the 2026 LEC Outdoor Championships to take the title with victories in the 400-meter dash, the 1500-meter run, the 4x800-meter relay, high jump, long jump, discus throw and shot put. Additionally, Alexander captured LEC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year for the second straight season and third time in his young career. Salem, along with assistant coaches
Ryan O'Connell,
Cameron Rodgers,
Ed Arcaro,
Connor Foley and
Kyle Wilson were named the LEC Coaching Staff of the Year outdoor season.
This is the second Northeast Region Men's Coach of the Year honor for Salem, who has garnered Little East Coaching Staff of the Year recognition seven times in his career, including three Indoor (2020, 2022, 2023) and four Outdoor (2022, 2023, 2025, 2026).
