June 13, 2008
(release courtesy of Larry Happel, Central College sports information director)

PELLA, IOWA . . . After engineering the most successful long-term run of any men’s and women’s track and field coach in Central College history, Kevin Sanger has resigned.

Sanger, a 1993 Central graduate, has served as head men’s team coach for 14 years after spending a season as assistant. He took over the women’s track and field program in 2000. Sanger has also been an assistant football coach for 14 seasons.

A Britt, Iowa native, Sanger was named the Iowa Conference men's track and field coach of the year six times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004) and has led the Dutch to five league crowns. He piloted Central to top-10 national team finishes in 2000, 2001 and 2002. In the past 10 years, Sanger’s men’s and women’s outdoor squads have recorded 11 national top-25 team finishes with the men reaching third place in 2000 and the women climbing as high as 14th in 2004. His 2008 men’s squad tied for 17th at the NCAA meet. Central was 19th in the final 2008 Division III women’s power rankings and 20th in the men’s rankings. The Dutch men’s and women’s teams each placed second at the Iowa Conference meet May 9-10.

Sanger’s athletes have won 10 individual NCAA Division III championships and have earned all-America recognition more than 90 times. His men’s 4x400-meter relay teams were especially prolific, earning an outdoor national meet berth the past 11 years. This year’s relay unit finished second in Division III. The Dutch have won the national 4x400-meter relay title three times (2000, 2001, 2002) while finishing second four times and fourth four times.

“I love Central College,” Sanger said. “It’s an incredible place. I’m very passionate about the track program, the people, the college and what we’ve done here. But that can be both a good and a bad thing. You put everything into it and eventually it wears you out. I’m ready to try something else. I’m not sure what that’s going to be yet, but I feel good about where the program is at, the coaching staff we have in place, the returning athletes and the recruits we have coming in. We’re in a position to do some good things and hopefully build on what we’ve done.”

Sanger said he’s looking at new opportunities both at Central and elsewhere.

“Coach Sanger has been one of the most loyal and dedicated coaches and colleagues that Central College has ever employed,” said athletics director Al Dorenkamp. “Our men’s track and field program has always been strong under his leadership and when Kevin took over the women’s program, we quickly became conference contenders and had many national qualifiers.

“We have a great reputation at the national level in track and field, thanks to Kevin Sanger’s commitment. Kevin has been a mentor and role model for many of our new coaches over the years and is a wonderful human being. We will miss him and wish him well as he moves on to another phase in his life.”

Guy Dierikx, a four-year all-American and anchor of Central’s 4x400-meter relay unit last month, said he has tremendous admiration for his head coach.

“One of the great things about Coach Sanger is he has a deep, caring compassion for all of his athletes,” Dierikx said. “He brought a lot of intensity and you could definitely tell he wanted you to give your all not just in a meet but at every practice. He believes that if you give a great effort and compete hard every day that things take care of themselves. He really loves athletics and loves being a part of young kids’ lives.

“We talked a lot about being a good Central family and about caring for each other. That comes from the top down with Coach Sanger.”

Bryan George, who earned all-America distinction as a middle distance runner in 2006 and spent the 2007 season as a Central assistant coach under Sanger, echoed Dierikx.

“You always knew how much he cared about you as a person,” George said. “He showed that on a daily basis. That’s what I liked.”

Dorenkamp said an immediate search will begin for a replacement.

“We have newly updated track and field updated facilities, an excellent coaching staff and a great tradition that should be appealing to interested applicants,” he said. A new BSS 1000 track surface was installed at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium in 2007 and a new Mondo indoor surface in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse will be ready for the 2009 season. New outdoor throwing venues have been added as well.

Sanger played defensive end for the Dutch football team and threw the discus and shot put for the track and field squad, placing second in the league in both throwing events in 1993. He earned a master’s degree at Iowa State University before returning to Central in 1994.

A West Hancock High School graduate, Sanger was an all-conference performer in both football and track and field for the Dutch, as were his three younger brothers who followed him to Central. Rick Sanger graduated from Central in 1996, followed by Jeff in 2001 and Mark in 2005.

In 2001, Sanger received a presidential service standard award from Central president David Roe for his work with the college.

Raegan Schultz Wagner and her twin sister Lindsay Schultz Janke were three-time heptathlon all-America honorees at Central and placed first and second, respectively, at the 2004 national meet. They continue to compete at amateur meets.

“We truly valued our track and field experience at Central and Coach Sanger contributed much to that experience,” said Wagner. “He knew how to challenge his athletes to reach their individual potential while still creating a fun environment. Whether he was submitting entries for a meet or getting the long jump pit ready for a home meet, he always showed a passion for the sport and looked out for his athletes and the Central College name.”

“Some of our fondest Central memories are a result of being on the track and field team, such as the day four Coach Sanger impersonators showed up at track practice the week before the conference meet,” Janke said. “Even in our post-college track and field competitions, Coach Sanger continues to offer coaching advice and makes us feel like we’re still part of his team. We will both greatly miss seeing Coach Sanger lead the Dutch.”

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