Dennis White

Denny White was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on November 5, 1941. He was raised in Marshalltown and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1959 and from the University of Northern Iowa in 1963 with a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Science. He began his career at New Providence High School before moving to Mount Pleasant High School where he retired after 40 years in education in 2004. Denny coached a variety of sports during his career, which included track & Field (40 years), Basketball (26 years), Football (22 years), Baseball (3 years), Cross Country (8 years) and Girls Basketball (1 year). That comes to a total of 100 seasons of athletics. Denny’s accomplishments as the head track & field coach, is impressive. During his tenure Mount Pleasant won one state championship, five runner-ups, six district titles and seven conference championships. He coached 27 state individual champions in a variety of events, 10 relay teams state champions and his athletes have set five state meet records. He has had 120 individual conference champions and 71 state meet place winners. He has had two individual and two relay teams win Drake Relay titles. Denny has had similar success coaching cross country. His girls’ team won the 2002 State Title. His teams won five conference titles during his tenure. Denny has been selected State Coach of the Year four times and Regional Coach of the Year 5 times. He was nominated for National Coach of the Year in 2000. Denny coached the Junior Olympic team in Mexico City in 1978. He served as a coach for the 2000 Senior Spotlight meet in 2000 and has served as an Area Representative of the IATC. Denny has been a member of the Drake Relays High School jury since 2002. Denny authored the book “Coaching Sprinters and Jumpers”. He is a certified USATF official who continues to officiate track and field and cross country at all levels. Denny and his wife of 41 years, Mary live in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he retired from Mt. Pleasant High School in 2004 after 40 years of teaching. Denny and Mary have three sons, Kyle of Iowa City, Todd of Iowa City and Bryan of Mt. Pleasant. They also enjoy seven grandchildren.