Induction Video
(Written: July 2018)
Laura (Verdegan) Knudsen was a member of UW-Stout’s women’s track & field team from 2001-05, women’s basketball team from 2001-04 and served as the track & field head coach from 2009-13. In track & field, she collected 12 All-America honors, one national title, 10 conference individual championships and held nine school records and two conference records. She still owns the WIAC record in the indoor triple jump at 40-4 (12.29m).
In 2004, Knudsen won the NCAA Division III indoor title in the triple jump. In 2005, she was the United States Track Coaches Association NCAA Division III Female Athlete of the Year and WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete. As head coach, she directed the men’s team to a third-place national finish outdoors and fourth-place finish indoors at the 2012 championships.
On the basketball court, Knudsen earned all-conference first team recognition in 2003 and 2004, after receiving honorable mention in 2002. She was an all-defensive team honoree in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Knudsen was a D3hoops.com all-region third team pick in 2003. Her 140 career blocked shots rank second in program history and in 2004, Knudsen was named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete. She was inducted into UW-Stout’s Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2012, she was selected to the WIAC Women’s Track & Field All-Time Team in conjunction with the conference’s Centennial Celebration.
Knudsen earned a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and master’s degree in food and nutritional sciences from UW-Stout. She resides in Menomonie, Wis.