Iowa State head coaching icon Bill Bergan dies at the age of 80
Randy PetersonIf Iowa State had a Mount Rushmore for head coaches, Bill Bergan certainly would be included. The former men’s track and cross-country coach died Monday. He was 80.
“Although Bill Bergan will be remembered as one of the most successful coaches in Iowa State history, he will also be remembered as one of the kindest, competitive and humble people I have ever met,” Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard said in an athletics department press release. “Bill was a legend in our industry and his impact on our program is still felt today.”
Bergan’s powerful coaching run between 1971-95 included leading Iowa State to the 1989 and 1994 NCAA cross-country team titles. His teams also won 28 Big Eight team titles.
He coached 16 Olympians, including Danny Harris and Sunday Uti, who both medaled at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Harris also earned the silver medal at the 1987 World Championship in the 400-meter hurdles, and was the first man to defeat Edwin Moses since 1977 at a track meet in Madrid in 1987.
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Other Bergan athletes to win individual NCAA championships were Gareth Brown (800 meters), Jon Brown (5,000 meters), Scott Crowell (discus), Jonah Koech (5,000 meters and cross-country), John Nuttall (cross-country), Brian Tietjens (high jump), and Bob Verbeeck (1,500 meters).
A native of Cedar Falls, Bergan graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1965. He was the track coach at Waterloo Columbus High School from 1965-71.
Bergan is survived by his wife, Karen, and children, Jody, Dan, Mike and Amy.
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson embarked on his 50th year of writing sports for the Des Moines Register in December 2021. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, 515-284-8132, and on Twitter @RandyPete.