CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M's Fran Bonifacic, Esther Conde-Turpin, Matt Stewart and Zach Daniel were honored by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with South Central Regional honors announced on Monday afternoon.
 
Each of the eight regions – Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both gender's top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches.
 
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2026 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
 
South Central Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year – Fran Bonifacic
Bonifacic won the heptathlon at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships with 5611 points, becoming the 12th-best performer in NCAA Division II history. He set PRs in three of the four field events, including the high jump (1.88m/6-2), pole vault (4.85m/15-11), and shot put (14.48m/47-6¼). Bonifacic was also named the LSC Indoor Outstanding Male Field Athlete of the Year.
 
South Central Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year – Esther Conde-Turpin
Conde-Turpin won the pentathlon at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships, scoring 4606 points for the third-best total in NCAA DII history. She also earned First-Team All-America honors in the long jump, placing fifth in that event. Earlier in the season, Conde-Turpin scored 22 points in field events at the LSC Indoor Championships, finishing runner-up in the long jump and posting third-place finishes in both the high jump and shot put.
 
South Central Region Men's Head Coach of the Year – Matt Stewart
Stewart led the Buffaloes to a sixth-place team finish at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships, scoring 23 points. West Texas A&M earned four All-America awards. 
 
South Central Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year – Zach Daniel
Daniel assisted the Buffaloes to finish as team runner-up at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships. West Texas A&M earned seven All-America honors, led by pentathlon champion Esther Conde-Turpin and runner-up finishes in the 800 meters and distance medley relay.