Renee Zellner - 2023

Renee Zellner

Coach Renee Zellner has had a successful and distinguished career at Harper College as a coach of both the men and women's track and field teams. She is currently an assistant coach under Head Coach Jim Macnider.

Coach Zellner has been a crucial member of Harper's coaching staff going back to 1980 when she started the women's track and field and gymnastics programs here. As head coach, she led both teams to their first national championship. She went on to win six national championships in total, five (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012) for the men, and one (2011) for the women. In 2011, Harper was the first school ever to win national championships in both men’s and women’s track and field. She served as the president and officer of the NJCAA Division I Men and Women’s Coaches Association for several years. She was the president and an officer of the NJCAA Region IV Track and Field Coaches Association for many years. She also served as Vice President of the NJCAA Division III Coaches Association for 12 years. In 1994, she was selected as an assistant coach/manager for the North Team at the Olympic festival and has been an official at several major invitationals and as an assistant official at a National Championship meet. Coach Zellner specializes in the sprints, jumps, throws, hurdles, 400m, 800m events and she works on developing athletes into combined event athletes. More than 100 athletes have qualified for nationals and numerous athletes have earned the status of All-Americans under Coach Zellner.

All-Americans
 
Timeline
-Assistant Coach (Men & Women Track & Field) at Harper College coach since 2019
-Volunteer Throws Coach (Men & Track & Field) at Carson Newman University from 2017 to 2019
-Head Coach (Men Track & Field) at Harper College from 1991-2017 (27 seasons)
-Head Coach (Women Track & Field) at Harper College from 1980-2017 (38 seasons)
-Started the women’s track and field program and gymnastics program in 1980 at Harper College
-Mid-suburban girl’s track and field coordinator for 5 years
-Started the girl's track team at Fremd High School in 1973
-Started the first girl’s gymnastics team in Milwaukee in 1970 at Custer High School. Went on to become State Champions (2x)
Awards
-USTFCCCA Coaches Central Region Men's Head Coach of the Year 3x (2015, 2016, 2017)
-USTFCCCA Coaches Central Region Women's Head Coach of the Year 3x (2015, 2016, 2017)
-NJCAA National Championship Women’s Coach of the Meet Award 5x (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
-NJCAA National Championship Women’s Coach of the Meet Award (2011)
-NJCAA Region IV Men's Coach of the Year (11x)
-NJCAA Region IV Women's Coach of the Year (9x)
-NJCAA Division III Coaches Association Female Coach of the Year in (2000)
Hall of Fame
-ITCCCA Hall of Fame (2018)
-NJCAA Region IV Hall of Fame (2005)
-NJCAA Region IV Coaches Hall of Fame (2004)
-NJCAA Division I Coaches Hall of Fame (1997)
Education
Post Graduate hours: Health, Fitness, Coaching
Masters Degree: Physical Education/Health, Northwestern University (1978)
Bachelors Degree: Physical Education/Dance/Recreation, Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1970)
-Health Fitness Instructor Certification: American College of Sports Medicine
-United States Track and Field (USATF) Master level officials certification.

NJCAA National Championship Results
Year Women T&F Men T&F
2024
2023 National Champions* Sixth*
2022 Fourth* Eleventh*
2021 - -
2020 - -
2019 Third* Third*
2018 Third* Fifth*
2017 National Runner-Up Sixth
2016 Third Third
2015 Third National Runner-Up
2014 Tenth Sixth
2013 Seventh Third
2012 Ninth National Champions
2011 National Champions National Champions
2010 Fourth Third
2009 National Champions
2008 National Champions
2007 National Champions
2006
*Assistant Coach

In 2013, the men's team captured second place at the national meet and had three national champions (Troy Cunningham, Colin Weber and Dan Lowry) and also won the 3200m relay. Three athletes (Isaac Jean-Paul, Colin Weber and Troy Cunningham) also earned All-American status with second place finishes. On the women's side in 2013, the Hawks tied for seventh at nationals and were national champions in the 3200m relay. Additionally, Jordan Wagner captured the 800m national title, and Lara Sladek earned All-American status with a second place finish in the hammer throw. Julie Jestus an NJCAA National champion in the heptathlon and high jump was inducted into the NJCAA coaches’ Hall of Fame. (2013)
 
In 2012 Coach Zellner’s men’s team won in a close finish raising their National Championship total to 5 championships in 7 years, finishing second 2 of those years. With this honor came the Coach of the Meet Award. Zellner was named Coach of the Year at the national meet in 2012 and her assistant, Nathaniel Williams, was named Assistant Coach of the Year.  That team featured five national champions (Pablo Ramirez, Chris Spudic, Troy Cunningham, Isaac Jean-Paul and Robert Douglas) and one Second Team All-America (Andre Barnes).  On the women’s side, Jazmin Calep, Brittany Walls and Erica Ogunleye earned Second Team All-America honors under Zellner’s watch. In 2012, Ryan Asta a Harper College thrower and a double national champion in the throws was inducted into the NJCAA coaches Hall of Fame.