Bill Bergan (1997) - Hall of Fame

Bill Bergan

Induction:
1997
Class:
1965

Being at the right place at the right time is the motto of William H. (Bill) Bergan. A 1960 graduate of Cedar Falls High School, he ran cross country and track for the Panthers from 1960 to 1965 and was the captain of the cross country squad in 1964 and the track team in 1965. UNI's cross country team placed third at the 1964 national championships.

Bergan began his professional coaching career at Waterloo Columbus High School in 1965 and stayed with the Sailors until 1971, when he was named Iowa State's cross country coach. He took on the additional duties of track and field coach in 1976. He retired from ISU in 1995. When he took over the cross country team, ISU had finished in the Big Eight's lower division for 11 straight years. After he took over the leadership, the Cyclones won 25 conference titles, a feat accomplished only eight times in the school's previous 66 years. ISU claimed its first NCAA Division I cross country title in 1989, and it finished second in 1990 and 1991 and third in 1993. Since the Cyclones first NCAA appearance in 1974, they earned a total of 15 NCAA cross country berths under Bergan, with eight top-eight finishes.

Bergan also excelled as a coach for the track and field teams, as well, with his teams capturing 10 Big Eight Conference outdoor titles. Many of his athletes achieved national honors, including 104 all-America recognitions, 156 Big Eight individual titles, and he coached 16 Olympians. Bergan was named the Big EightÕs cross country Coach of the Year five times, NCAA District Five Coach of the Year 18 times, and Big Eight Indoor/Outdoor Coach of the Year in 1992.

He was inducted into the Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame in 1984, was named National Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1983 and received the same honor for track in 1986. He also was elected to the "Cardinal Key" organization, which recognizes outstanding leadership, character, scholarship and service to Iowa State University. He is also in the Drake Relays Hall of Fame.