To be a decathlete, one must thrive on the challenges each individual event provides.
World-class decathlete and Eugene resident Dan Steele is certainly not one to turn down an opportunity to test himself, which is one of the reasons he has achieved such a high level of international success.
With that in mind, the former NCAA champion has decided to test his fate as a coach, and will join the men’s track team on a volunteer basis to spread his knowledge of many events to the Ducks.
“Coaching will be a fun, exciting challenge — something I’m definitely looking to,” Steele said. “The Ducks have a great program, and the events they want me to cover fit really well.”
The two specific events that Steele will help advise are the track team’s hurdlers and javelin throwers. Back in 1992, as a senior at Eastern Illinois, Steele captured the NCAA championship in the 400 meter hurdles. He ended that season ranked 10th nationally.
Oregon men’s track and field coach Martin Smith is delighted to have Steele as a part of the staff and is eager for him to work with his players in the upcoming 2000-01 season.
“The addition of Dan to our coaching staff is a great move,” Smith said. “He’s been very successful at the highest levels and has a familiarity with a diverse number of events, besides his specialties in the hurdles and javelin. We’re very excited to have him aboard.”
Since Steele’s ’92 NCAA title, he has climbed his way up the decathlete ladder. In 1995, he placed fifth at the USA Championships and finished the season ranked fifth nationally and 25th in the world among decathletes.
After a three year hiatus from the sport, Steele came back with a vengeance in 1999 and completed his finest season in national and international competition. He placed third at the USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, and second at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg with an impressive point total of 8,070.
Later that year, Steele bettered that score with a personal best 8,130 points at the IAAF World Championships, where he finished eighth.
The reason Steele took an absence from the sport was because he focused his efforts on Bobsled racing, which was a successful venture. Steele was a member of the U.S. Bobsled National Team from 1997-98 and visited Nagano, Japan, as a member of the 1998 Olympic Team in the two- and four-man sled crews.
Steele will continue to be a full-time decathlete, but is eager to share his ideas with the Duck athletes and experience the Oregon track atmosphere.
“I had been hoping to coach since I graduated in 1992, but until now it’s never been the right situation,” Steele said. “I also love the Eugene community, and the way it embraces its athletes. It’s a great setting to be an athlete and coach.”