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Head Coach Pat Healy
Pat Healy begins his 17th season as head women’s track and field coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2007-08. Healy also starts his 17th season at the helm of the Eagles’ women’s cross country squad in 2007.
Under Healy, UW-L continues to be among the most respected cross country and track and field programs in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and in the NCAA III.
“The best thing you can do as a coach is to give each student-athlete on the team every opportunity to reach their own potential,” says Healy. “Coaches don’t make athletes, we just provide them with the instruction and opportunity to reach whatever potential they have, and everybody has different potential.”
“I’ve always prided myself on being able to understand the character of different student-athletes,” says Healy. “I think it’s important as a coach to look at each person and treat them as an individual.”
UW-L's track and field program has been a perennial power at the national level under Healy. He has led the Eagles to five second-place finishes at the indoor and outdoor NCAA III Championships during his tenure. UW-L finished fourth at the 2007 NCAA III Indoor Championships and tied for 16th at the outdoor championships. The Eagles have finished in the top-five in eight of the last 18 championships in indoor and outdoor track. The Eagles have won nine indoor and 10 outdoor WIAC titles under Healy.
The Eagles earned trophies in the "triple crown" (cross country, indoor and outdoor track) in 2001-02 for the first time since 1983-84. UW-L has won six of the last seven indoor track & field conference titles under Healy and seven of the last nine outdoor championships.
Healy has guided the Eagles to 12 top-10 finishes at the NCAA III cross country championships in his 15 years. UW-L placed fourth at the 2001 and 2005 championships, its best finish ever under Healy. The Eagles have also captured four (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006) WIAC Cross Country titles under Healy.
He has been awarded the WIAC Coach of the Year in track 14times, including the indoor and outdoor coach of the year in 2007. Healy also been honored as the WIAC Cross Country Coach of the Year three times.
Healy was named the national indoor track Coach of the Year by the USTCA in 1997, 2000 and 2001 as well as the national outdoor Coach of the Year in 1998. In addition, he has been named regional Coach of the Year by the organization in track seven times and in cross country twice. He has coached 291 NCAA All-Americans and 11 national champions.
Prior to his arrival at UW-L, Healy was head women’s track and field coach at Southern Oregon State College. He also served as assistant cross country coach. During his tenure, the Raiders won several track and cross country conference titles and NAIA II district championships.
Healy is a 1977 graduate of Western Oregon State. He and his wife, Melanie, and children Caitlyn, Carson and Allison reside in La Crescent, Minnesota.
Healy's Track Record
| Indoor Track & Field | ||
| Year | WIAC | NCAA III |
| 1992 | 2nd | 13th |
| 1993 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 1994 | 1st | 5th |
| 1995 | 2nd | 8th |
| 1996 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1997 | 1st | 10th |
| 1998 | 2nd | 8th |
| 1999 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 2000 | 1st | 5th |
| 2001 | 1st | 2nd |
| 2002 | 1st | 3rd |
| 2003 | 1st | 5th |
| 2004 | 1st | Tied 23rd |
| 2005 | 1st | Tied 18th |
| 2006 | 2nd | 7th |
| 2007 | 1st | 4th |
| Outdoor Track & Field | ||
| Year | WIAC | NCAA III |
| 1992 | 1st | 8th |
| 1993 | 1st | 2nd |
| 1994 | 2nd | 6th |
| 1995 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1996 | 2nd | 6th |
| 1997 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 1998 | 1st | 4th |
| 1999 | 1st | 4th |
| 2000 | 1st | 8th |
| 2001 | 1st | 6th |
| 2002 | 1st | 4th |
| 2003 | 1st | 3rd |
| 2004 | 2nd | 10th |
| 2005 | 1st | 16th |
| 2006 | 2nd | 8th |
| 2007 | 1st | Tied 16th |
