Parkside Athletics

Mike DeWitt made his mark at UW-Parkside as both a student-athlete and a coach. As a student, DeWitt was the track & field team's first All-American and went on to compete in the US Olympic Trials five times in the 50 kilometer racewalk and was on Team USA seven times including the 1989 World Cup of Racewalking while twice medaled at the U.S. National Olympic Festivals in the 1980s.
 
DeWitt returned to his alma mater as the women's cross country and track coach in 1981 and piloted the program until 2010 while also coaching the men's teams from 2007-2010. DeWitt guided the women's cross country team to its second NAIA national title in 1986 while securing Great Lakes Valley Conference crowns in cross country eight times including four consecutive from 2004 to 2007. DeWitt was named the GLVC Cross Country Coach of the Year on seven occasions, was the NAIA or NCAA Region Coach of the Year 12 times, and was the NAIA Coach of the Year in 1986 while earning an induction to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2000. Under his tutelage, the Runnin' Rangers captured four Midwest Region titles and made 13 NCAA national championship appearances while developing over 125 All-Americans, including six student-athletes making appearances in the Olympic Games.