Watch Bingham’s MTCCCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Video | Speech

DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University women’s track & field assistant coach Vince Bingham was recently inducted into the Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (MTCCCA) Hall of Fame.

A St. Louis area native, Bingham, who is now in his second season at NIU coaching the field events for the Huskies, is widely known as one of the best track & field coaches and recruiters in the Midwest. He was one of six members of the MTCCCA 2014 Hall of Fame induction class.

“My life has been a journey,” Bingham said while accepting his induction at the ceremony. “There have been so many coaches that taught me how to dream and believe in myself. I have worked my whole life to achieve what my mentors achieved. You are the company you keep, and I’ve coached beside so many great people. This award is not for Vince Bingham; it’s for all of the great people – coaches, parents, athletes – who have helped me in my career.”

Bingham was an All-State runner at Crystal City High School in Missouri before beginning a long and distinguished coaching career in track & field. He has coached at numerous high schools as well colleges such as Missouri, Ohio State, Lindenwood, Missouri Baptist, Southern Illinois and Kansas before joining Connie Teaberry’s staff at NIU in 2013.

His coaching has helped hundreds of student-athletes reach their full potential, including more than 200 NAIA All-Americans, 21 total NAIA national champions, 13 world championship qualifiers and five Olympians, including 2012 Summer Olympians Brittany Borman (United States) and NikitaHolder (Canada).

In his first season at NIU, Bingham coached Claudette Day (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) to the NCAA Championships in the high jump, making her just the second Huskie ever to reach the national track & field meet.

The NIU track & field team resumes its indoor season on January 10 at the Gene Edmonds Cup at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

--NIU--