Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame

Ames, 2024 IATC Hall of Fame Coach Don’t be fooled into believing that coaches make an impact on kids’ lives only with wins and losses.  This is not to say that wins and losses aren’t important, but it’s the GREAT coaches who strive to win AND be a positive influence on the young people they…

IATO HoF 2024 Who knew that throwing the Discus at Urbandale High School in the late 50’s and early 60’s would lead you to Iowa State where you would become a member of the Letterman’s Club and a school record holder. That was the athletic career of Richard Leutzinger in a nutshell.   After graduating from…

IATO Hall of Fame 2024 Tim Thomas made a commitment to our sport as an outstanding distance runner in his hometown of Huntertown, Indiana in the mid 60’s.  Little did he know then, it was a lifetime commitment.  After graduating from high school, Tim took his talents to Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri where he…

IATO Hall of Fame 2024 There have really been just three significant landing spots in Timm Lamb’s career; all were very successful, and all proved to be life changing. His first stop was Hammond, Indiana, where he grew up. Even early on, it was quite apparent that running, teaching, coaching and later, officiating, would be…

Iowa City, City High, 2024 IATC Hall of Fame Coach If you were raised in Eugene, Oregon and were a key part of a state champion Cross Country team at South Eugene High School, saw Pre run at Old Hayward Field, and ran collegiately at D3 powerhouse Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa, did you really…

Mt. Pleasant, 2024 IATC Hall of Coach After spending many of his formative years in Washington, Iowa, the Hutchcroft family moved to West Branch when Dave was a high school sophomore.  His dad was the Superintendent, and Dave played football, leading the 1966 Bears to an undefeated season and a #1 state ranking and basketball…

2024 IATC Laverne Kloster Service Award We gather here, every December, to honor not only coaches, athletes and officials, but also those who have made an unwavering commitment to the betterment of our great sports of Track and Field and Cross Country. Today we honor a couple whose dedication to these sports and the running…

Urbandale 2024 IATC Hall of Fame Athlete I have said it up here many times before, Junior High and High School Track and Field Athletes, start their careers with hopes and dreams of being a state qualifier and maybe even a state place winner one day. In Iowa, they also have a goal of making…

IATO Friends of Track and Field Dick and Sharon Plants are the type of officials any sport would want. They know the rules. The athletes love them. Fellow officials and meet operations folks love them. They can be counted on to always be there. Dick received his plaque shortly before passing away this past June….

2023 IATO Inductee Marvin Allen Jr., a lifelong resident of the Des Moines area, is a fine example of dedication and commitment. He has been married to his wife Mary for 40 years. He retired after a 36-year working career with John Deere as a team leader in the Experimental Shop. He retired as a…

Larry Almond lived his youth in Oskaloosa, IA and graduated from William Penn University with a major in PE and Industrial Education in 1963. His career has been teaching and coaching High School classes in Colorado, New Mexico and of course the majority of his time in Iowa. Larry’s area of expertise was coaching Shot…

Paullina (Official) 2015 Since his retirement from South O’Brien high school in 2005, Curt Anderson has become an avid golfer and fisherman, but still has a real passion for high school athletics and officiating.Curt graduated from Postville high school in 1967 then went on to earn a degree in history at Iowa State and his…

Renwick & IHSAA 2002/(Official) 2013 Inducted into the IATC Hall of Fame in 2002. Dave was born in Fort Dodge on April 2, 1951. He was raised in Renwick. He attended Boone Valley High School. Dave enjoyed a very successful but short high school career in Track and Field. He was a member of the…

Gilbert 2008 (Official) 2014 If there were one word to describe our inductee, it would be DEDICATION.Deb Larson Anderson graduated from South Hamilton High School in the spring of 1969 and from UNI in 1973.In the fall of 1973 she began her 34 year teaching and coaching career in the Gilbert school district.Deb taught PE…

Bloomfield (Official) 2010 Following graduation from Aurelia HS he went off to college in Nebraska at Wayne State College where he excelled and earned a degree in Physical Education. This is our good friend: Dennis AndersonHe came back across the border and became the only PE teacher at Sutherland Community Schools in Sutherland Iowa. Dennis…

Waterloo 1978

Marion 1977 John was Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School’s first track and field coach. He began the program in 1957 and retired from head coaching position following the 1974 season completing 17 very successful years including a state championship in 1962.  For twenty years the Cedar Rapids Jerfferson Track & Field Relays from its inception…

East Des Moines 1973 Born in Adair County, the son of a blacksmith and attended Orient High School and continuing at Grinnell College. He competed in track, throwing the discus and shot and running sprints and middle distance events. A story that Augustine ran six miles daily from his farm home to Orient School became…

New Hampton 1985 Born in New Hampton, Iowa in 1918. Bab graduated from New Hampton High School as Valedictorian of his class and received an academic scholarship to Univ. of Northern Iowa. He has held coaching positions at Hudson, Eagle Grove, Postville, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and is presently at Mound, Minnesota. Life time record in…

2019 Inductee Spending 35 years on the job would be enough for most people to “call it a career” when the opportunity to retire came calling. But that isn’t how it worked for Randy Baker. After graduating from Manning High School in 1974 and the University of Northern Iowa in ‘78, Randy started and finished…

Eagle Grove 2001 Jerry Becker, was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and graduated from LeMars High School in 1954. During his high school career he participated in football, basketball, and track. He earned All-Conference honors in football and track. He qualified for the State rack meet in four events. After graduation Jerry attended Westmar College…

2019 Inductee As a standout athlete at Marshalltown High School and the son of a very successful Marshalltown coach, it seemed only natural that Tim Bell would come home after college and create his own legacy with the Bobcats. Tim was an outstanding pole vaulter and basketball player in high school and earned a full…

2023 Inductee The first IGH-SAU state Cross Country meet was held in 1966 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Adel with 18 teams and a total of 107 runners. Margaret Benjamin won the individual title, running the 1.25 mile course in 7:30, while leading Central, Argyle, now Central Lee, to the first team title as…

Volga City & Iowa State University 1984 Track coach at Iowa State University. Has contributed countless hours to track and field and to college and high school athletics in Iowa. Clinic Director for the Championship Productions Iowa Track Coacches Clinic held annually in Ames. Bill Bergan, a Cedar Falls, IA native, came to Iowa State…

Iowa State University 1975 Track and Field athlete UNI (Iowa State Teachers College 1928-32) Named the UNI Mascot. On September 18, 1931, the College Eye announced that Paul Bender, acting head of the Department of Physical Education for Men; George Holmes, professor of journalism; Robert Burley, president of the Student Council. Burl Berry, a center…

DeWitt 1976 Harold Birney was a 1932 graduate of DeWitt High School. As a student he was an excellent athlete excelling in football, basketball, and track. Mr. Birney returned to DeWitt High School in 1946 and began a 32 year career as teacher, coach, and the district’s first athletic director. Harold coached Football and Track…

Wellsburg 1986 Born in Dubuque, Iowa. Graduated from Waverly High School in 1943 where he was a letter winner in football and baseball. After a hitch in the U.S. Navy, Walter attended and graduated from Wartburg College and obtained his master’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan in 1964. He coached for 6 years at Auburn, Iowa,…

Montezuma (Official) 2007 Bill Bolen , a native of Montezuma, Iowa, Bill graduated from high school in 1954 where he played in 4 sports: football, basketball, baseball & track. He received his bachelor’s degree in education from Drake University in 1958 where he played basketball for John Bennington. Following graduation, Bill taught at Lynnville-Sully High…

Indianola (Official) 2000 Charter IATO ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Has been involved in Boys and Girls athletics, one way or another, since 1950. Officiated Boys and Girls Basketball for several years Officiated Football for 10 years. Has been a Track official at several High School Conference and Invitational Meets. Officiates at several College Track Meets. Has been an…

Montezuma (Official) 2012 Hall of Fame coach in 2 sports; A school Principal for 32 years; An Athletic Director for 33 years; A Drake Relays volunteer for 40 years; A husband for 53 years. Do you notice a pattern here? Then Darrell Brand makes a commitment to do something, he does it very well and…

University of Iowa 2011 George Bresnahan was born in Ida Grove in 1891 and after graduating from high school he left the Hawkeye state for Wisconsin, where he became an outstanding runner. After serving in World War 1 George became an assistant coach for the Badgers. After 3 years in Madison, Bresnahan was offered the…

Ames 1977 Antwerpen 1920 Olympics – 400 meters

Galva Holstien 2000 Teresa Breyfogle was born in Ida Grove, IA. and is the daughter of Dale Breyfogle and Ellen Madsen. She grew up in Holstein, IA. She has a brother Brian. She graduated from Galva Holstein High School in 1993. Here are some of her high school accomplishments. In track her accomplishments are outstanding….

2019 Inductee In 2018 we posthumously inducted long time Dubuque Senior coach Jim Boughton into our Hall of Fame. Coach Boughton had some amazing athletes during his career with the Rams, but there is one that sticks out above the rest and had I had my head screwed on straight a year ago, Rob Brock…

Fairfield (Official) 2001 Gordon had three passions in life – his family – his God – and Track and Field. He started running in the 9th grade and never stopped. A student said after his death, he had a wonderful race through life. He graduated from Iowa Teachers College (UNI) in 1951 and began coaching…

St. Ansgar 1999 Our athlete inductee to the Hall of Fame was born in Dubuque, IA. Jennifer Brower is the daughter of Diana and Frank Brower. She grew up in St. Ansgar, IA. She has a brother Andy. She graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1988. Here are some of her high school accomplishments.In…