John “Raff” Raffensperger is a very modest person who has been coaching Track & Field since 1963. John graduated from the University High in 1958. While in High School he was the State Class “B” Champion in the 220, in a time of 22.3, ran on the 440 Championship Relay Team and was selected 3rd team All-State in Football, as a quarterback. After High School John attended the University of Northern Iowa and had great success in Track and Field. He was the conference Champ in the Low Hurdles, won the small college NCAA 220 Hurdles in a time of 23.7, set the University of Northern Iowa’s indoor school record in the 440 in a time of 50.9 as well as running on several relays, and served as captain of the Track and Field team. Aside from his Track and Field performance John participated in Football and received All-Conference recognition two times as a receiver. Following college John began his coaching career at Mid-Prairie High School in Wellman, for one year, four years as an assistant at Davenport Central, two years as an assistant at City High before becoming Head Coach in 1970. John is the first to say that good athletes can bring success to any program, but it takes leadership to mold great teams. As of 1997 these are his coaching accomplishments {with many more to come]: 6 State Team Championships 14 Mississippi Valley Conference titles 90 major meet titles 38 Individual and Relay State Champions 5 Drake Relay’s High School Division MVP Athletes 30 Drake Relay’s Individual and Relay Champions Coached 2 Iowa All-Time State Record Relays Coached 2 Iowa All-Time State Record Individual bests John has been awarded 6 State Coach of the Year Awards 12 Mississippi Valley Coach of the Year Awards He has served as the Meet Director for the National Junior Olympics in 1985 The High School Boys Division Referee at the Drake Relays in 1997 A Big Ten Official since 1988 A person very concerned about the well being of Track and Field in Iowa, John has served the IATC as a regional representative, Vice-President, President and Newsletter Editor. John and his wife Sharon were blessed with two sons – Mike and David who both competed in Track and Field. Mike is a volunteer Assistant Coach at City High.