Jim VanHootegem, Miguel Mendez tabbed new South Plains College track and field assistant coaches

LEVELLAND — The South Plains College track and field program added two new coaches to the program Monday, as Jim VanHootegem and Miguel Mendez will serve as assistants under head coach Erik Vance.

VanHootegem comes to Levelland after serving as an assistant coach at Purdue University during the 2020-21 season. Prior to his time with the Boilermakers, VanHootegem was the head track and field coach at the University of Oklahoma from 2013-2019. In his six seasons at the helm in Norman, VanHootegem guided 83 Sooners to NCAA championship berths, 62 collected All-American accolades, and 28 captured individual or relay Big 12 championships. Additionally, 65 student-athletes earned All-Academic honors from the USTFCCCA.

In his career, VanHootegem guided his programs to 12 NCAA team championships and 27 conference team titles. Additionally, VanHootegem produced 72 All-Americans as an event coach, and another 55 honorees as a head coach.

Prior to his time at OU, VanHootegem served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M University from 2004-2013. During his stint in College Station, the Aggies won seven NCAA team titles and 14 conference crowns. VanHootegem was named the 2009 Men's National Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2012 Mondo Regional Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.

As a student-athlete at North Central College, VanHootegem helped lead his squad to a pair of NCAA Division III national championships and two third-place finishes. He is a seven-time All-American and was named the team's most valuable athlete and a team captain.

VanHootegem earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from North Central College. He is a certified strength and conditioning coach by the USTFCCCA Academy and is Level II certified in the USA Track & Field Coaching Education Program.

"I am honored to join a program with such a rich championship history," VanHootegem said. "I want to thank Director of Athletics Roger Reding and head coach Erik Vance for entrusting me to help maintain that tradition of excellence.  I am proud to be a Texan. I can't wait to meet our student-athletes and begin our preparation for the 2024 season.  I love the process of individual development as well as seeing a team come together.  I'm sure we will all learn from each other and it will be a lot of fun along the way."

Mendez will head up the South Plains cross country and distance program, serving as an assistant coach at the high school and collegiate levels.

The Dumas, Texas native competed at Wayland Baptist University and West Texas A&M. Mendez earned his Bachelor's in Business Management from West Texas A&M University and his Master's in Sports Administration from Midwestern State University.

"I'm grateful for the chance to represent a very established program and I want to thank Erik Vance for this opportunity," Mendez said. "I am honored and thankful to be able to come to South Plains College and to be part of the Texan family. I am thrilled about the future of the program and to see the accomplishments that we will achieve together!"