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Women’s History Month: Deb Vercauteren (’13)

Women’s History Month: Deb Vercauteren (’13)

OSHKOSH, Wis.- This Women's History Month, UW-Oshkosh Athletics is proud to honor our female Hall of Famers in a series of eight stories throughout March. This campaign creates the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our female Hall of Famers. Our fourth story will look at Hall of Fame class of 2013 member Deb Vercauteren's career with the Titans.

Deb Vercauteren ('13) was a four-year letter winner at UW-Stevens Point from 1972-76. While running for the Pointers, she was the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC, the WIAC's female sports predecessor) champion in the 440-yard dash in 1973, 1974 and 1976. She set the 440-yard dash conference record at 57.8 seconds in 1976, a record that stood until 1993. She also became the first collegiate woman in Wisconsin to break a 60-second time in the event. After graduating from Stevens Point in 1976 with her bachelor's degree, she taught physical education and health at Defoe Junior High School in Wautoma from 1977-78 before attending UW-Madison, graduating with her master's in 1980.

Vercauteren came to Oshkosh in 1981, accepting the head women's track and field and cross country coach position as well as a position as an admissions counselor. While the track and field team had been competing at the collegiate level since 1977, the women's cross country team came into existence in her first year at Oshkosh. Her husband, John Zupanc ('13) also joined the Titans on the men's side of track and field and cross country. 

Vercauteren led the cross country team to WIAC titles for an uninterrupted 16 straight years from 1986-2001. The team won the NCAA regional meet from 1986-92, took second place in 1993 and won it again from 1994-2000. At the national meet, the Titans took first in 1987, 1988, 1991 and 1996. She was named the WIAC Cross Country Coach of the Year 10 times (1983, 1986-89, 1993-96, 1999) and national Coach of the Year twice (1995, 1996). Eight student-athletes were named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete during her tenure.

In indoor track and field, Vercauteren's teams placed first in the WIAC meet from 1998-1993, in 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2006 with first-place finishes at the NCAA indoor meet for two three-year runs; 1994-96 and 2004-06. She was named the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year nine times (1988, 1989, 1991, 1994-97, 1999 and 2006) as well as the national Coach of the Year in 2006. Four student-athletes were named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete during her tenure.

During the outdoor track and field season, Oshkosh won the WIAC meet in 1988-91, 1994-97, 2004 and 2006 and the NCAA meet in 1990, 1991, 1995-97, 2004, 2006 and 2007 under Vercauteren. She was named the WIAC Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year nine times (1988, 1989, 1991, 1994-97, 2004, 2006). Eight student-athletes were named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete during her tenure.

Vercauteren earned many honors of her own during her career. She was named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the UW-Stevens Point Hall of Fames. She also received Stevens Point's Coaching Excellence Award in 1989. She was given UW-Oshkosh's Outstanding Service Award in 1999. She was named the USTFCCCA (United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) Women's Cross Country Silver Anniversary Coach in 2006 during the Silver Anniversary of the NCAA sponsoring women's sports, also joining the organization's Hall of Fame the same year. USTFCCCA named a national award after the Ashwaubenon native in 2008. The Deb Vercauteren Program of the Year Award is annually presented to the best women's cross country and track and field program in the NCAA Division III.

Vercauteren also served as the UW-Oshkosh Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator from 2005-10. She stepped down from her head coach position on the track and field team in 2009 and retired from UW-Oshkosh in 2010, finishing her career with 18 total NCAA titles, a school-leading mark. Men's gymnastics head coach Ken Allen ('99) is the closest Titan coach with 10 national titles of his own. Over her illustrious career, student-athletes won 58 individual national titles, 331 All-America honors, 319 WIAC titles and 11 College Sports Communicators (formerly College Sports Information Directors of America or CoSIDA) Academic All-America honors.

Vercauteren's influence as an early female coach in the male-dominated field of collegiate athletics was not unnoticed by her student-athletes. UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame Class of 2000 member, Cheryl (Niederberger) Schmitt noted that Vercauteren was her first and only female coach. "She was able to balance every key elements of powerful coaching. Deb was not only a role model athlete, but a student of the sport, a skilled facilitator, a behavioral specialist, and a passionate competitor. Year after year, she built exceptional UW-Oshkosh teams. Deb supported her athletes as they achieved high accolades. She fostered a growth mindset and wellness in all of her student athletes. I was so fortunate to have Deb as my coach in my collegiate career.  She welcomed me into her program and fostered my skills. I grew into a key part of multiple national championships. Deb's influence made a huge impact at that time and continued throughout my life. Thank you, Deb!"

Current assistant cross country and track and field coach and a UW-Oshkosh alumna that also ran for Vercauteren, Brittany (Haas) Gibson knows that women like Vercauteren are a big reason she has the opportunity to coach student-athletes today. "Deb was one of the main reasons that I chose UW-Oshkosh as a student athlete.  Upon meeting her during the recruiting process, many would say you could feel the sense of woman empowerment that she exuded. The countless accolades she has are one way she was a trailblazer, however the most influential way for me was the relationship that developed between coach and athlete.  She made you feel cared about yet wanted to push and encourage you to be an independent, strong female trailblazer yourself.  As a female athlete, you wanted to be successful (not only in running but in all areas of your life) for her, for yourself, for your teammates, for women.  She was a big reason I felt proud to be a Titan as an athlete, and now as I continue to have a strong sense of pride as an alumna and a recent addition to the Titan coaching staff. Today I am lucky to call Deb a friend and I aspire to have even a fraction of an impact on student athletes and the sport in the way she did."

Vercauteren was inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2012. During the centennial celebration of the conference. The longest tenured women's track and field coach in WIAC history, she was named the all-time coach for both the women's cross country and women's track and field teams.

Vercauteren and her husband have now retired to Omro but are still involved in Titan Athletics. She is involved in both the UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee and the UW-Oshkosh Alumni Association Athletics Hall of Fame Chapter Committee, while he is a member of the Alumni Association Chapter Committee.