WHITE Deubrook girls track coach Rachelle Debeer is one of eight finalists for this years Coach of the Year award from the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
Crazy enough, (the national convention) is in South Dakota this year, Debeer said. Im actually nominated in the category of girls track and field. So theres eight people from across the country who all get recognized at a banquet June 25, hosted here in South Dakota.
Debeer has been head girls track coach at Deubrook for 15 years. Prior to that, she coached at Sioux Valley for more than a decade. She said shes always had a passion for track.
Now, Ive never run a marathon, Im not going to run a marathon but I love competing, Debeer said. At a very young age, track was something that for a pretty gangly, uncoordinated kid just became so apparent. I can out-work people in this sport. If youre willing to hurt and work hard, you can be successful. That was really like a lightbulb for me Theres no excuses. Theres no one to blame. Its you, the lane, the wind and the other people.
Thats a philosophy shes worked to instill in kids throughout 28 years of coaching.
If you dont put much into it, youre not going to get much out of it, Debeer said. Theres great sports with balls bouncing around the gym; but with track and field, the effort counts so much. You can out-hustle and out-work somebody on the basketball court, but maybe the balls just not going in the hole But in track and field, if youre willing to out-work and out-hustle someone, you can be pretty successful.
For Debeer, coaching is a family pursuit. Her husband Brad is head boys track coach, head girls basketball coach and activities director at Deubrook. Their daughter Shaylee Schultz is head girls track coach and assistant volleyball coach for the Scotland-Menno athletic co-op.
To see your kid love what you do and want to do it is pretty cool, Debeer said. Shell call and say, hey what are you doing for workouts? Now theyre a lot closer to Yankton, so their weather is nicer. Im sometimes like, weve got gale force winds and a blizzard while you folks have 60 degree weather. So our workouts are sometimes a little different. But its really cool for us as parents, coaches and teachers for Brad and I to see her take that love for track and field that we have and want to pass it along.
Debeer and her husband continue to work side by side at Deubrook.
Were a pretty little school but we have a pretty invested staff, she said. I get to coach with my husband, so it sometimes feels like a family affair to the kids because well argue about stuff. Its good though because I get to plan the workouts and the torture sessions to train the kids and hes a positive person and gets to build them up.
The entire family will be at the upcoming convention.
We were going to go to the national convention anyway, because it was here in South Dakota, Debeer said. And our daughter was part of those state champion titles that (Deubrook) won in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Debeer said she cant imagine a more rewarding career.
Ive had former athletes walk up to me and put their baby in my arms. They want you to meet their daughter or their son, she said. Were just regular hard-working people, but sometimes you make a difference and people make you feel like a superhero.
Shes told the kids this is all about them.
Ive had kids text me or direct message me and say really nice, positive things, Debeer said. But I consider this their award or opportunity. I wouldnt be a finalist without them. They make us look good, and thats what we keep telling them all the time. Your hard work makes us look good and make us look smart.
Whether in the classroom or on the track, she wants the kids to just keep learning.
Im still learning lessons as I go. Youre never too old, Debeer said. We always joke, well you might be taking care of me in the nursing home someday We joke around with the kids like that, but these kids are our future. We want them to have core values and understand that people matter.
The National Coach of the Year will be announced June 25 at the Ramkota Convention Center in Rapid City.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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