National Honors for Track and Field Coach and Student-Athlete

By Patrick Bohn ’05, March 31, 2020
Jennifer Potter and Parley Hannan ’20 take home awards for outstanding seasons.
Potter and Hannan

Head Coach Jennifer Potter ’92 (Photo by: Stan Mah) and Parley Hannan ’20 (Photo courtesy of Ithaca College Athletic Communications) helped the Bombers to their first-ever #1 ranking.

Head Coach Jennifer Potter ’92 (Photo by: Stan Mah) and Parley Hannan ’20 (Photo courtesy of Ithaca College Athletic Communications) helped the Bombers to their first-ever #1 ranking.

Head Women’s Track and Field Coach Jennifer Potter ’92 was named the 2020 Division III National Indoor Women’s Head Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Additionally, Parley Hannan ’20 was named the USTFCCCA’s National Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.

These honors came on the heels of the duo being named Atlantic Region and Liberty League athlete and coach of the year.

At the time when the NCAA canceled all spring and winter championships, the Bombers were ranked #2 in the country and were strong contenders to win the indoor team championship. The squad had qualified student-athletes in 10 different events for the NCAA Indoor Championships.

The team spent the entire season ranked in the top six in the country and spent two weeks at #1, the first time the program had ever been ranked in the top spot.

“I am truly impressed with the performance process she led this year. Knowing her process-oriented work, I am so happy that she [was] acknowledged by her peers with the National Coach of the Year Award.”

Susan Bassett ’79, Associate Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports

Potter’s 2019-20 season was her 17th at the helm of the program. She guided the Bombers to their 16th conference title and their third straight regional championship this season. During her career, she’s coached student-athletes to 55 all-American honors and 12 national championships.

“Coach Potter launched the process of preparation for this year in earnest last June,” said Susan Bassett ’79, associate vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports. “She reviewed and analyzed every aspect of the program and led her staff to prepare her team to earn a #1 national ranking. The journey started in earnest in the fall with building blocks established for this team to dominate the Liberty League Championships, the All-Atlantic Championships and send 10 qualifiers to the NCAA Championships. Jennifer had her team there and ready to go. I am truly impressed with the performance process she led this year. Knowing her process-oriented work, I am so happy that she [was] acknowledged by her peers with the National Coach of the Year Award.”

A four-year member of the Bomber track and field team, Potter earned All-American honors in the 1,600-meter relay at the 1991 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Potter was also a two-time national qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles.

Hannan, who was in her first season on the team, became the second Ithaca student-athlete to win the USTFCCCA’s National Athlete of the Year award, following pole-vaulter Katherine Pitman, ’17, DPT ’20 in 2018.

“Parley Hannan is without a doubt among the very elite Bomber athletes of all-time. This was a breakthrough year for her in every event with each performance building on the last." 

Susan Bassett

At the time of the season’s cancellation, Hannan was ranked first in the country in the 3,000-meter run, 5,000-meter run, and mile, while also running on the top-ranked distance medley relay team.

“Parley Hannan is without a doubt among the very elite Bomber athletes of all-time,” Bassett said. “This was a breakthrough year for her in every event with each performance building on the last. She seems to have just scratched the surface of her potential. It has been a true joy to watch her compete. Earning female track athlete of the year is a phenomenal achievement with so many great athletes across the country. I am beaming with pride [for] Parley and [Assistant Women’s Track & Field Coach] Erin Dinan.”

Earlier this year, Hannan set a Division III record in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16:05.36. During the fall, she won the school’s first-ever cross country national championship.