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 at all levels at Gilbert as well as coaching cheerleading, JH girl’s basketball, varsity girl’s basketball, and track and field and cross country.
It was in coaching track and field and cross country where Deb Anderson excelled.
Deb coached JH girl’s track and field for 34 years. She started the high school cross country program in 1976 and led them to success for 26 years.
Despite the fact that Deb is a very humble person there are many awards and accolades that have come her way, and she needs to be recognized for those.
The Anderson coached girls cross country teams qualified for state 14 times with 1 state title and 2 runner-up trophies to their credit. Fellow Hall of Fame member Sydney Pounds Leach won 2 state titles under Anderson’s tutelage.
The boys made it to state 15 times and finished 2nd twice.
In her last 21 years serving as Gilbert’s boys and girls cross country coach, there was only 1 season that Gilbert was not represented at the state meet.
Deb has never missed a cross country meet or JH track meet that Gilbert has participated in, even AFTER retiring. In 1998, 2001 and 2008 she was a National High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year finalist.
She has been a IATC girls cross country state coach of the year once, and 11 times has been chosen by her peers as a regional cross country coach of the year.
Her JH Girls track teams won over 120 meets, with 6 undefeated seasons, 10 conference championships, 1 state meet title and 1 state pentathlon title.
In 2007 her IATC peers recognized her as JH Track Coach of the Year.
It is not only coaching that has kept Deb busy all of her adult life. She is very active in her church, singing in the choir, making quilts and teaching Sunday school. She has also played a key role in the success of the IATC; working at IATC sponsored events, being a regional rep and chairing the JH Coach of the Year committee the past 10 years.
Since retiring from teaching and coaching Deb has become a registered track and field official, keeping busy working meets at Iowa State and Drake; working at the Relays plus the state meet and NCAA championships.
Official:
Deb Larson Anderson graduated from South Hamilton High School in the spring of 1969 and from UNI in 1973. If there were one word to describe this IATO Hall of Fame inductee, it would be DEDICATION. In the fall of 1973 she began her 34 year teaching and coaching career in the Gilbert school district. Deb taught PE at all levels at Gilbert as well as coaching cheerleading, JH girl’s basketball, varsity girls basketball, and track and field and cross country. Track and field and cross country have been very important in Deb Anderson’s life. First as an athlete, then as a coach and now as an official.
Deb coached JH girl’s track and field for 34 years. She started the high school cross country program in 1976 and led them to success for 26 years. The Anderson coached girls cross country teams qualified for state 14 times with 1 state title and 2 runner-up trophies to their credit. Fellow Hall of Fame member Sydney Pounds Leach won 2 state titles under Anderson’s tutelage. The boys made it to state 15 times and finished 2nd twice. In her last 21 years serving as Gilbert’s boys and girls cross country coach, there was only 1 season that Gilbert was not represented at the state meet.
Deb has never missed a cross country meet or JH track meet that Gilbert has participated in, even AFTER retiring. In 1998, 2001 and 2008 she was a National High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year finalist. She has been IATC girls cross country state coach of the year once, and 11 times has been chosen by her peers as a regional cross country coach of the year. In 2007 her IATC peers recognized her as JH Track Coach of the Year. She has also played a key role in the success of the IATC; working at IATC sponsored events, being a regional rep and chairing the JH Coach of the Year committee for over 10 years.