UW-Oshkosh's Deb Vercauteren is among 12 accomplished cross country and track and field coaches who will be inducted into the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame on Tuesday (Dec. 12) in San Antonio, Texas.

This year's induction class features coaches who won National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's and women's team titles at all three divisional levels in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. The distinguished group will be inducted during the USTFCCCA's annual convention.

Besides Vercauteren, other inductees are Bill Bergan of Iowa State University, Al Carius of North Central College (Ill.), John Coughlan of Illinois State University, DeLoss Dodds of Kansas State University, Bob Groseclose of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Tom Heinonen of the University of Oregon, Don Hood, Sr. of Abilene Christian University (Texas), Ted McLaughlin of Southern Methodist University (Texas), Bill Moultrie of Howard University (Washington, D.C.), Jack Pyrah of Villanova University (Pa.) and Gary Wieneke of the University of Illinois.

"This year's Hall of Fame class personifies the values of collegiate track and field and cross country," said Sam Seemes, CEO of the USTFCCCA. "The mark they've left on their sports is immeasurable. Our association is honored to induct such a group of individuals into the Hall of Fame."

UW-Oshkosh's trophy case has been lavishly decorated during Vercauteren's 25-plus seasons as the school's head women's cross country and women's track and field coach. The shrine includes trophies for winning 17 NCAA Division III titles and 36 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championships.

In outdoor track and field, Vercauteren has guided UW-Oshkosh to NCAA Division III titles in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2004 and 2006. The Titans also finished second at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championship in 1989, 1992, 1994 and 2005 and third in 1988, 1993 and 1998.

UW-Oshkosh athletes have earned 171 All-America awards at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championship during the past 25 years. The Titans' All-America performances are led by 22 individual national titles, including five by Robyn Jarocki, four by Liz Woodworth and three by Stephanie Bostwick. UW-Oshkosh also owns one national title in the relays.

Competing for bragging rights at the WIAC Outdoor Championship, Vercauteren has directed UW-Oshkosh to 10 first and 10 second-place finishes. The Titans captured WIAC championships in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2004 and 2006. Since 1982, UW-Oshkosh athletes won 148 events while competing at the WIAC Outdoor Championship.

Vercauteren gained Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year honors by the NCAA Division III in 2004 and by the WIAC in 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2004 and 2006.In 2006, the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recognized UW-Oshkosh for owning the outstanding NCAA Division III women's outdoor track and field program of the past 25 years.

Indoors, Vercauteren's accomplishments are equally impressive as she led UW-Oshkosh to NCAA Division III titles in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Titans also placed second at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championship in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2002 and third in 1997.

Since the first NCAA Division III Indoor Championship was held in 1985, All-America awards have been presented 117 times to UW-Oshkosh athletes. The Titans' All-America performances are led by 21 individual national titles, including five by Jarocki and three by both Woodworth and Melissa Oleson. UW-Oshkosh also owns three national titles in the relays.

At the WIAC Indoor Championship, Vercauteren has coached UW-Oshkosh to 11 first and nine second-place finishes. The Titans claimed WIAC titles in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2006. Since 1982, UW-Oshkosh athletes won 149 events while competing at the WIAC Indoor Championship.

Vercauteren received Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year accolades by the NCAA Division III in 2006 and by the WIAC in 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2006.

Besides coaching track and field, Vercauteren has served as the head women's cross country coach at UW-Oshkosh since 1981. She began the sport at UW-Oshkosh from infancy that season and took the Titans to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championship the following year.

UW-Oshkosh has claimed four NCAA Division III cross country titles during Vercauteren's 26 seasons as head coach, with victories coming in 1987, 1988, 1991 and 1996. The Titans also placed in the top 10 on 14 other occasions, including second-place rankings in 1989, 1990 and 1995. In all, UW-Oshkosh has been a team entry at the NCAA Division III Championship 21 times during Vercauteren's tenure as head coach.

Individually, she has trained UW-Oshkosh cross country athletes to 38 NCAA Division III All-America performances, including national titles won by Laura Horejs in 1991 and Tiffany Speckman in 1997.

Since 1986, Vercauteren's Titans have been a perennial conference power. UW-Oshkosh has won the WIAC championship 15 times in the past 21 years while finishing second in the event on three other occasions. The Titans were WIAC champion in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Vercauteren has coached UW-Oshkosh athletes to 11 WIAC individual titles.

The NCAA Division III selected Vercauteren as its Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996. She was named WIAC Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999.

In 2005, the USTFCCCA picked Vercauteren as its NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Silver Anniversary Coach. The award was given in conjunction with the NCAA's 25-year celebration of sponsoring women's sports

Vercauteren, an Ashwaubenon, Wis., native, received a bachelor's degree from UW-Stevens Point in 1976 and a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1980. The UW-Stevens Point, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District 14 and USTFCCCA Hall of Fame member is married to John Zupanc, the head men's cross country coach and head men's track and field coach at UW-Oshkosh.

In addition to her coaching duties, Vercauteren also serves as the assistant director of athletics at UW-Oshkosh.