Former Track & Field Coach, Academic Advisor Carol Stevenson Dies
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Former Purdue women’s track & field and cross country coach and academic advisor Carol Stevenson died on July 17 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Stevenson led the Boilermaker women’s track & field and cross country programs from 1989-93. She retired from coaching in 1993 and served as an academic advisor, first for coach Gene Keady’s basketball team and then for coach Joe Tiller’s football program, until her retirement from Purdue Athletics in 2002.
“For her entire tenure both as our women’s track & field and cross country head coach and athletics academic advisor, Carol was a tremendously dedicated and valued member of the Purdue Athletics family,” Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator Nancy Cross said. “Coach Stevenson’s greatest gift was her ability to help each of her student-athletes reach his and her full potential, be that on the track or in the classroom. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to her husband Jim and the entire Stevenson family.”
Stevenson guided the Purdue women to NCAA Championship appearances outdoors in 1990 and 93 and indoors in 1993. Six Boilermakers collected All-America accolades and four won Big Ten titles under Stevenson.
Prior to her arrival at Purdue, Stevenson was the head women’s track & field and cross country coach at Indiana from 1980-1989. She was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for cross country in 1987 and indoor track & field in 1988. Stevenson earned NCAA District IV Coach of the Year accolades in 1987 and 88 after she guided a pair of runners to NCAA cross country championships.
Stevenson was the U.S. head women’s coach at the 1989 World University Games in Duisberg, Germany.
She also served as president of the NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Coaches Association and vice president of the Division I Women’s Track & Field Coaches Association and was selected to serve on the NCAA Track & Field committee.
For her many contributions to the sport and as an educator of coaches, Stevenson was recognized as a Master Coach by USA Track & Field.