Assistant Coach: Jane Wheeler
Hometown: Traer, IA
School: North Tama HS; Luther College (BA); Western Illinois University (MA)
Athletic highlights: 1997 1A State cross-country champion; 1997 1A state runner-up in the 1500 and 3000m events at Iowa state meet; 3 time National Qualifier in DIII Cross Country; Member of 2000 3rd Place Team @ DIII National Cross Country; 2-time National Qualifier in DIII Track & Field Meet; 2001 IIAC Champion in 10K
Coaching Highlights:
CROSS COUNTRY: Named MAC Coach of the Year in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2020. Led her varsity squad to ten consecutive MAC team titles from 2005-2014. Until 2019, she coached her team to 14 consecutive appearances at the state meet, including a 5th place finish in 2008, a 4th place finish in 2010, a 3rd place finish in 2011, state champions in 2012, a 3rd place finish in 2013, and a runner-up team finish in 2014. Has coached 12 all-state athletes, including 2013 and 2015 individual state champion, McKenzie Yanek. Served as a volunteer assistant at Iowa City High in 2002 when the team won the state title. Named Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2012 and At-Large Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2020.
TRACK & FIELD: Served 3 years as junior high track coach, 1 year as high school varsity assistant track coach, and stepped down after 12 years as co-/head track and field coach at the conclusion of the 2019 season. Named 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 MAC Coach of the Year and led team to conference and district titles from 2009-2013, and from 2015-2019. Works primarily with middle distance and distance runners and shared co-head coaching duties with husband, Kenny Wheeler. Guided McKenzie Yanek to a 2016 Drake Relays title in the 3000m and a runner-up finish and school record in the same event at the 2016 State meet. Led team to a runner-up team finish at the state meet in 2013, a Class 4A team state championship in 2015, and another state runner-up finish in 2016. Named IATC Class 4A At-Large Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and IATC Class 4A Coach of the Year for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Was named recipient of high school state coach of the year for Iowa by US Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) in 2015. Jane is a USATF Level I Certified Coach.
Coach Wheeler will assist Coach Maddie Reynolds with our distance group in 2021 and provide continued guidance and leadership to our student-athletes.
School: North Tama HS; Luther College (BA); Western Illinois University (MA)
Athletic highlights: 1997 1A State cross-country champion; 1997 1A state runner-up in the 1500 and 3000m events at Iowa state meet; 3 time National Qualifier in DIII Cross Country; Member of 2000 3rd Place Team @ DIII National Cross Country; 2-time National Qualifier in DIII Track & Field Meet; 2001 IIAC Champion in 10K
Coaching Highlights:
CROSS COUNTRY: Named MAC Coach of the Year in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2020. Led her varsity squad to ten consecutive MAC team titles from 2005-2014. Until 2019, she coached her team to 14 consecutive appearances at the state meet, including a 5th place finish in 2008, a 4th place finish in 2010, a 3rd place finish in 2011, state champions in 2012, a 3rd place finish in 2013, and a runner-up team finish in 2014. Has coached 12 all-state athletes, including 2013 and 2015 individual state champion, McKenzie Yanek. Served as a volunteer assistant at Iowa City High in 2002 when the team won the state title. Named Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2012 and At-Large Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2020.
TRACK & FIELD: Served 3 years as junior high track coach, 1 year as high school varsity assistant track coach, and stepped down after 12 years as co-/head track and field coach at the conclusion of the 2019 season. Named 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 MAC Coach of the Year and led team to conference and district titles from 2009-2013, and from 2015-2019. Works primarily with middle distance and distance runners and shared co-head coaching duties with husband, Kenny Wheeler. Guided McKenzie Yanek to a 2016 Drake Relays title in the 3000m and a runner-up finish and school record in the same event at the 2016 State meet. Led team to a runner-up team finish at the state meet in 2013, a Class 4A team state championship in 2015, and another state runner-up finish in 2016. Named IATC Class 4A At-Large Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and IATC Class 4A Coach of the Year for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Was named recipient of high school state coach of the year for Iowa by US Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) in 2015. Jane is a USATF Level I Certified Coach.
Coach Wheeler will assist Coach Maddie Reynolds with our distance group in 2021 and provide continued guidance and leadership to our student-athletes.