Akers To Be Inducted In ITCCCA Hall Of Fame

The committee consists of 15 Hall-of-Fame coaches through Illinois. Each region of the State is represented. Each of the candidates was discussed at length with concern focusing on the three C's – coaching record, contribution to the sports outside of coaching, and character. The committee was faced with a tough task of only selecting seven inductees. Each of the members placed a secret ballot where they were allowed to vote for seven coaches. The votes were cast and counted.

The following coaches have been selected for this year:

Tom Akers (Eastern Illinois University)
Tom Akers has been a track & field coach at Eastern Illinois University for over thirty years. He has been the head coach most of that time. His men's team have won 14 outdoor OVC championships and 15 indoor championships. Since he became head coach in 2008, the women have won 6 outdoor championships and 5 indoor championships. Tom has coached an amazing 290 Eastern Illinois University athletes to individual OVC conference titles. 92 at his athletes have been NCAA qualifiers. Six athletes have earned a total of 18 different All-American honors and two athletes have won NCAA national championships. Tom has, also, spent countless hours in helping the IHSA present the State Track & Field Meet.

Theresa Burgard (Kankakee High School)
Theresa Burgard coached in the Kankakee school district for 25 years. She passed away from cancer in 2012. In her career as head girls track and field coach, she coached athletes to 4 individual IHSA State championships and a total of 37 State medals. She coached great athletes in Rosie Morrow, Bianca Rockett, and Dominique Kimpel The teams won 3 Sectional track and field Championships and 5 times her team finished in the top 10 at the IHSA State Track Meet For several years she also served as the boys cross country coach as her team won back-to-back all city cross-country titles. And avid runner Teresa completed 26 marathons.

Jeff Butler (Monticello High School) 
Jeff Butler has been a track and field and cross-country coach for nearly 30 years. He coached at Tuscola for 15 years. He served as head boys track and field and head boys and girls cross country coach at Monticello for 11 years. Jeff's teams have won five IHSA State trophies. He has coached two individual State Champions and two relay State Champions. His athletes have won a total of 39 state medals. In 2006 his 4 x 800 m relay team set an IHSA Class A State record of 7:53.69 that still stands. His son Jeff was on that team. He has hosted many invitational, regional, and sectional meets. Jeff, also, served on the IHSA Advisory Committee.

Monica Dawson (Chicago Morgan Park High School) 
Monica Dawson has coach of track and field and cross country for 28 years. She started at Thornwood High School and has been at Morgan Park since 1992. Before Monica join the staff at Morgan Park, the top finish in-state was a 10th place. Beginning in 1992 the Morgan's Park girls' track and field program has won 15 State trophies including 7 IHSA State Championships and 8 runner-up State trophies. She has helped coach 18 individual and 27 relay IHSA State champions. Her athletes have won a total of 116 state medals. In 2003 Monica was awarded ITCCCA Assistant coach recognition award. She has also been very involved with USA track and field.

Debbie Hinchcliffe (Homewood-Flossmoor High School) 
Debbie Hinchcliffe was the head girls track & field coach at Homewood Flossmoor High School from 1976 to 2003. She was an excellent representative who created a high profile for girls' track and field in early stages and beyond. Her coaching accomplishments include 11 conference and 5 Sectional championships. 7 teams finished in the top 10 at the State Track and Field Meet. The Vikings she coached earned an IHSA State Meet third-place trophy in 2000. Debbie coached individual athletes to 10 State Championships and relays to 3 State Championships. She coached Adia McKinnon to a Illinois State Meet record of 52.91in the 400 meters. 44 times her athletes earned IHSA State medals.

Dan Iverson (Naperville North High School)
Dan Iverson is in his 20th year as head girls cross country coach at Naperville North. He spent two years as an assistant in the program. His teams accomplishments are remarkable. The girls have won the Illinois State Cross Country Championship five times and earned State trophies seven other times. His teams have won 10 sectional and 15 regional. 25 of Dan's athletes have earned All-State cross country medals. As assistant track coach, he has coached 8 individuals and 8 relay teams to IHSA State medals including last year's State championship 3200 m. relay. He has served on the IHSA advisory committee for cross country and was instrumental in helping get the current system of five sectionals in AAA cross country.

Leroy Millsap (Cahokia High School)
Leroy Millsap has served as a coach of track and field for 30 years. He has been a head boys track and field coach at Cahokia High School since 1998. Previous to that, Leroy coached in Alabama where his teams won 7 Alabama State Championships. At Cahokia, his teams have won 7 IHSA State Track and Field Championships and 3 other State trophies. This past season Cahokia scored and all-time record of 119 points at the State Track and Field Meet. At Cahokia, he has coached athletes to 16 individual and 11 relay IHSA State championships and a total of 123 All-State medals. A very dedicated coach and positive role model Leroy also is highly involved with United States Track and Field.