Head Coach: Kenny Wheeler
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
School: Rufus King High School; Luther College (BA), The University of Iowa (MA)
Running Highlights: 4-year letter winner in track and field at Luther College. Team captain during his junior and senior seasons. Was the 1998 IIAC Conference champion in the triple jump event and currently holds the school record in the indoor 200m hurdles event.
Coaching Highlights: From 2000-2003, served as Asst. Track and Field Coach at Luther College, leading horizontal jumpers to multiple conference titles and all-conference honors. From 2004-06, Asst. Track and Field Coach at City High (Iowa City); Helped lead the City High, Iowa City Boys team to an Iowa state track and field team title in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2005. During that time, coached long jumpers to two Drake Relays titles in 2004 and 2005, an Iowa High School individual state championship in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2005.
Since, 2008, Kenny has helped steer the ship for the Spartans and completed his 17th season with the Pleasant Valley Girl's Track and Field team in 2024. Working primarily with the sprints, long jump, and hurdle events, he has guided athletes to school records in the 100H, 400H, shuttle hurdle relay, 4 x 100m relay, 4 x 200m relay, 4 x 400m relay, sprint medley relay and distance medley relay events. Has coached five different 400 hurdlers to top 25 all-time status in Iowa high school history and five individual state champions in the event, most recently with Emily Wood claiming the 400 hurdle crown in 2021. Coached 4 x 400m relay groups that won Drake Relays and State titles in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2024. The Shuttle Hurdle Relay team were Drake Relays champions in 2016 and state champions in 2015 and 2016. Guided sprint medley relay team to a then Iowa all-time state record of 1:44.89 at 2015 state meet. Helped guide Anne Leners (2013) and Addie Swanson (2017) to qualifications in the USATF Junior Outdoor National Championships in the 400m hurdles event. In 2021, helped guide 4 x 100-meter relay team to Pleasant Valley's first state title in the event since 1985. The Spartans broke 7 school records in 2024, including the 4 x 100, 4 x 400, and distance medley relay events.
Perennial contenders at the state level, Coach Wheeler has helped lead the team to Class 4A runner-up team finishes in 2013, 2016, and 2021, a 4th place finish in 2023, and Class 4A team titles in 2015 and 2024. Kenny, along with co-head coach Jane Wheeler, was selected as 2013, 2016, and 2018 IATC Class 4A at-large coach of the year, 2014-2016, 2018, 2019 MAC coach of the year and IATC Class 4A coach of the year in 2014, 2015, and 2021. Jane and Kenny were named Iowa High School Girls State Coach of the Year by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) for the 2015 season and selected as All-Iowa Girls' Track Coach of the Year by the Des Moines Register in 2016.
Kenny was selected as the 2019-20 Iowa girl's track and field outdoor coach of the year and Central Section coach of the year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and was honored with the IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction Award in 2022. The IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction Award honors the Iowa coach who has demonstrated a successful career while making notable contributions toward school, community and the coaching profession. Along with Clinton head track & field Coach Tony Steen, was named MAC co-Coach of the Year in 2023 and selected as an IATC Class 4A at-large coach of the year in 2023. In 2024, Kenny was named IATC Class 4A Coach of the Year for the fourth time and selected as the USTFCCCA Iowa High School Girls State Coach of the Year again in 2024. Kenny is a USATF Level II Certified Coach in sprints, jumps, and relays.
School: Rufus King High School; Luther College (BA), The University of Iowa (MA)
Running Highlights: 4-year letter winner in track and field at Luther College. Team captain during his junior and senior seasons. Was the 1998 IIAC Conference champion in the triple jump event and currently holds the school record in the indoor 200m hurdles event.
Coaching Highlights: From 2000-2003, served as Asst. Track and Field Coach at Luther College, leading horizontal jumpers to multiple conference titles and all-conference honors. From 2004-06, Asst. Track and Field Coach at City High (Iowa City); Helped lead the City High, Iowa City Boys team to an Iowa state track and field team title in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2005. During that time, coached long jumpers to two Drake Relays titles in 2004 and 2005, an Iowa High School individual state championship in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2005.
Since, 2008, Kenny has helped steer the ship for the Spartans and completed his 17th season with the Pleasant Valley Girl's Track and Field team in 2024. Working primarily with the sprints, long jump, and hurdle events, he has guided athletes to school records in the 100H, 400H, shuttle hurdle relay, 4 x 100m relay, 4 x 200m relay, 4 x 400m relay, sprint medley relay and distance medley relay events. Has coached five different 400 hurdlers to top 25 all-time status in Iowa high school history and five individual state champions in the event, most recently with Emily Wood claiming the 400 hurdle crown in 2021. Coached 4 x 400m relay groups that won Drake Relays and State titles in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2024. The Shuttle Hurdle Relay team were Drake Relays champions in 2016 and state champions in 2015 and 2016. Guided sprint medley relay team to a then Iowa all-time state record of 1:44.89 at 2015 state meet. Helped guide Anne Leners (2013) and Addie Swanson (2017) to qualifications in the USATF Junior Outdoor National Championships in the 400m hurdles event. In 2021, helped guide 4 x 100-meter relay team to Pleasant Valley's first state title in the event since 1985. The Spartans broke 7 school records in 2024, including the 4 x 100, 4 x 400, and distance medley relay events.
Perennial contenders at the state level, Coach Wheeler has helped lead the team to Class 4A runner-up team finishes in 2013, 2016, and 2021, a 4th place finish in 2023, and Class 4A team titles in 2015 and 2024. Kenny, along with co-head coach Jane Wheeler, was selected as 2013, 2016, and 2018 IATC Class 4A at-large coach of the year, 2014-2016, 2018, 2019 MAC coach of the year and IATC Class 4A coach of the year in 2014, 2015, and 2021. Jane and Kenny were named Iowa High School Girls State Coach of the Year by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) for the 2015 season and selected as All-Iowa Girls' Track Coach of the Year by the Des Moines Register in 2016.
Kenny was selected as the 2019-20 Iowa girl's track and field outdoor coach of the year and Central Section coach of the year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and was honored with the IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction Award in 2022. The IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction Award honors the Iowa coach who has demonstrated a successful career while making notable contributions toward school, community and the coaching profession. Along with Clinton head track & field Coach Tony Steen, was named MAC co-Coach of the Year in 2023 and selected as an IATC Class 4A at-large coach of the year in 2023. In 2024, Kenny was named IATC Class 4A Coach of the Year for the fourth time and selected as the USTFCCCA Iowa High School Girls State Coach of the Year again in 2024. Kenny is a USATF Level II Certified Coach in sprints, jumps, and relays.
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