Haines earns regional award

Southeast Missouri State University retiring track and field coach Joey Haines has added another national honor to his long list of achievements.

The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association earlier this week named Haines the 2008 Men's Midwest Coach of the Year.

In his final year as Southeast's coach, Haines guided the Redhawks' men's team to the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor championship.

Haines also had two qualifiers to this week's NCAA outdoor championships — Miles Smith in the 400 meters and John Berry in the long jump.

During his 26-year tenure at Southeast, Haines' teams won 15 OVC women's titles and six OVC men's titles. He led Southeast to the NCAA Division II indoor national championship in 1985.

Haines has been named OVC coach of the year 20 times and was the NCAA Division II national coach of the year in 1985. He also was the NCAA Division II regional coach of the year six times.

Haines' retirement becomes official Aug. 1. His longtime assistant, Eric Crumpecker, will replace him as Southeast's coach.