Spartan Profiles: Karen Dennis

U.S. OLYMPIC TRACK COACH

            Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Gail Devers. Marion Jones. Inger Miller. These stars of women’s track and field and members of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team in Sydney share one thing in common besides their quest for world records. Their Olympic coach is UNLV track and cross country coach Karen Dennis, ’77, M.A. ’79, who previously starred at MSU both as an athlete and coach.

            You might say the selection of Dennis as Olympic coach befits her track record. As a Spartan athlete, Karen won a 200-meters national title and led her team to a fourth place finish. As MSU women’s track coach from 1981-92, she led the Spartans to a Big Ten title in 1982, earned “Coach of the Year” honors in 1990, and produced Olympians (Judi Brown, 1984 Olympic silver medalist), Big Ten champions (Cheryl Gilliam) and All-Americans (Odessa Small and Mary Shea).

            Karen boasts experience in international competition, having coached at the 1989 World University Championships in Germany, the 1991 Pan American Games in Cuba, and the 1995 World Championships in Sweden. She has also served as women’s referee at the Drake Relays, as member of the USA Track & Field International Compeition Committee, and as past president of the Athletic Congress Women’s Track Coaches Association as well as on several NCAA committees.