Successful Cross-Country Coach Begins with Spring Lake Campout
Nearly 50 years ago, a little boy moved to Macomb with his parents and younger brother and sister. His father began running. His mother began running. The little boy began running, and he never stopped. Now, the winningest cross-country coach in Naperville North High School’s history and member of the Illinois Track and Cross-Country Association Hall of Fame has begun his final athletic and teaching seasons. Here is Dan Iverson’s story.
Iverson became an assistant girls’ cross-country coach the same month he began teaching in the social studies department at Naperville North in 1994. Two years later, he became head coach. He also is head coach of the girls’ track and field team, but this story is about going the distance.
Iverson’s teams have made appearances at the state cross-country meet every year since he has been head coach. They have won nine state championships, including four in a row from 2016 to 2019. On the national level, his teams have qualified for Nike Cross Nationals, the country’s unofficial national championship, nine times, earning two second-place and two fourth-place finishes.
Every season begins with a two-night campout in Macomb.
