(Written: June 2012)
Deb Vercauteren achieved unprecedented success as head coach of the UW-Oshkosh women’s cross country and track & field teams. She won a total of 18 NCAA Division III titles while coaching cross country from 1981-2010 and track & field from 1982-2009.
In cross country, Vercauteren led the Titans to four NCAA national championships and 15 WIAC titles. She was named National Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996.
Vercauteren coached UW-Oshkosh to eight NCAA outdoor track & field titles and six NCAA indoor track & field crowns. Vercauteren, who was selected as the National Outdoor Coach of the Year in 2004 and the National Indoor Coach of the Year in 2006, led her track & field teams to a total of 21 WIAC titles.
In 2005, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association selected Vercauteren as its NCAA Division III Cross Country Silver Anniversary Coach. In 2007, Vercauteren was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame. One year later, the association named the NCAA Division III Program of the Year Award in her honor.
In 2012, she was selected as the WIAC All-Time Coach in both women’s cross country and women’s track & field in conjunction with the WIAC Centennial Celebration.
Vercauteren received a bachelor’s degree from UW-Stevens Point and master’s degree from UW-Madison. She resides in Omro, Wis.