Doane Women's Track & Field History
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Rochelle Schmidt
holds the school record for
All-American honors earned with 16.
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"Tradition Never Graduates" has been one of the Tiger mottos over the past couple of years. Doane College has seen many athletes come in and excel both on the track and in the classroom. The Tigers have more than 260 NAIA All-American honors and more than 80 NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors.
The women's program won the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in 2001 and 2002. Then-head coach Fred Beile was named NAIA Coach-of-the-Year in both years as well as in 1989 and 1994. He coached 327 All-Americans (men and women combined) while he was head coach and now he serves as a mentor to the program as an assistant coach. In 1987, Beile was inducted into the NAIA Hall-of-Fame.
There have been many athletes who have gone through the rigors of four seasons in the track and field program. After they leave, several carry over the success they had in competition to success in their personal and professional life.
One of the most decorated Tiger athletes is Heather Rhoadarmer. She was an eight-time All-American and four-time National Champion in the shot put. Rhoadarmer also excelled in the classroom, earning NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors twice. In 2003, she was inducted into the NAIA Hall-of-Fame. She is currently the only Doane female athlete inducted into the NAIA Hall-of-Fame.
Rochelle Schmidt stands out in recent years. She earned 16 NAIA All-American honors (2001-04), most in Doane College history, and four National Championships in the long and triple jumps. She also holds the school record in the long and triple jump, both indoor and outdoor.