In his second season at the helm for the Hilltoppers, Head Coach Danny Irwin is seeing phenomenal success early in his career. This season, the Hilltoppers have a 5-0 record and have dominated their way through the Mountain East Conference. Although two of their meets have been postponed, that has not stopped this Hilltopper team from finding their rhythm. As a team, the Toppers captured the 2021 Mountain East Conference Title, along with the Super Region 3 Championship. As the team prepares for the NCAA Division II Tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, it goes without saying the rich are looking to get richer.

Irwin’s success at West Liberty is quite impressive, to say the least. However, when looking at Irwin’s track record, it is hardly surprising. While beginning his coaching career at Bluffton High School during the mid-2000’s Irwin led his team to a conference championship. From there, Irwin took the coaching job at Wabash College, a Division III school in Crawfordsville, Indiana. After winning an eye-opening three assistant coach of the year awards, he landed his first head coaching job at Wheeling University, formerly known as Wheeling Jesuit University. Whilst at Wheeling, Irwin won the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, all while coaching a couple National Champions in the process. Now at West Liberty with the Hilltop as home, his success is continuing, as the Hilltoppers look to secure a couple National Championship titles of their own.

There is no question that Irwin’s success has ultimately rubbed off on this Hilltoppers team. Even with the season coming to a close within the next couple of weeks, the Toppers are nowhere near fizzling out from not only the Mountain East Conference, but on the national stage as well.