NEW ORLEANS – For the fourth time in his career, Carson-Newman assistant track and field coach Tyler Stepp has been lauded as the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Southeast Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year. 

Stepp also won the award for his efforts mentoring the Eagles during the indoor campaign. 

"Tyler is most deserving of this award, Carson-Newman head track and field coach David Needs said. "He is not only an incredible jumps coach but is a dogged recruiter and someone who is dedicated to the mission of this team and a servant-leader. Winning this award for the fourth time shows what the rest of region thinks about his work too."

Stepp receives the accolade largely for his tutelage of the Eagles' jumpers.  Stepp is already in Bradenton, Fla., with two of his mentees, Kristofer Potts-Howard and his younger brother Tanner Stepp, to help the Eagles compete in outdoor nationals starting Thursday. 

Potts-Howard will be competing in the long jump after clearing 7.44 meters.  The younger Stepp will attempt to earn another All-America honor in the high jump.  He checks in with a 2.13 meter leap.  

Stepp coached the second-best long jump event squad in NCAA Division II this year with national qualifiers Potts-Howard and TJ Davis. Potts-Howard is a national qualifier in the triple jump, as well.

His athletes posted top-10 finishes in the high jump (3rd), long jump (8th) and triple jump (7th) at the Penn Relays.