Feature Friday: head track and field coach Dave Cleveland
Get to know Simpson head track and field coach, Dave Cleveland, in our latest edition of Feature Friday. In addition to his coaching duties, Cleveland also serves as an assistant athletic director in the department.
In what city/state did you grow up in?
• Belmond, Iowa, located straight north of Indianola about 100 miles.
What college(s) did you attend?
• University of Northern Iowa — majored in biology and teaching, chemistry endorsed, and received a coaching minor
• Viterbo University — master's in secondary education
• Drake University — master's in educational leadership
Favorite professional sports team(s)?
• Minnesota Vikings – SKOL!
Favorite athlete?
• Michael Johnson, professional track and field athlete and former world record holder in the 200 and 400 meters
Items you can't live without?
• Chips and Anderson Erickson French Onion Dip
Favorite vacation spot?
• Pensacola Beach, Florida
Favorite spot on campus?
• Outside on the track!
Favorite thing about Simpson?
• The people! (faculty, staff, coaches and students)
Family?
• Wife, Terra, two sons, Leo (20) and Max (18), and daughter, Brinley (12)
What would you be doing if you were not coaching?
• Probably working as a teacher/administrator in a public school system
Best athletic moment?
• Too many in 30 years of coaching to pick one. I've coached a lot of great kids/student-athletes. All seemed like the "best" moments at the time. When you see a student-athlete work hard, sacrifice, and overcome to achieve a goal that they might not have thought possible is the BEST.
Who would play you in a movie?
• Tom Hanks (I'm told he is my doppelganger)
One thing people don't know about you?
• I was a three-time ALL-STATER (in CHOIR!). I was also in show choir – jazz hands!
Hobbies outside of coaching?
• Irritating my wife! (making messes and doing [ruining] the laundry)
Role model(s) and why?
• My parents. My mom was a nurse and my dad was a high school principal, superintendent and coach. Ironically, both grew up here in the Indianola/Milo area and my dad attended Simpson, played basketball and was the conference record holder in high jump.
