Western Colorado University Athletics

From 1975 until 2007, Duane Vandenbusche could be found on the track, coaching the Mountaineer men's and women's teams to victory.  During his tenure as the head track and field and cross country coach, Vandenbusche compiled 27 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, 12 team national championships, which included 10 at the NCAA Division II level and two as a member of the NAIA.  In total, Vandenbusche coached 51 individual national champions and more than 300 All-Americans at Western.

The longtime professor of history, took over the Western track and field program after MSHOF inductee and then Director of Athletics, Tracy Borah, appointed Vandenbusche to the head coach position.  Vandenbusche went onto become a seven-time NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year and coach three former athletes that went onto compete in the Olympics.

"One of the most important things that coach Vandenbusche did for the sports of Track and Field and Cross Country was his influence in setting opportunities for women," Western Head Cross Country Coach Jen Michel said in her nomination form.  "I feel that Duane Vandenbusche has done so much for Western State College, the sport, for female athletes, and now for women in the profession of coaching, that is why I feel that he so strongly deserves to be a member of the Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame."