Stelter, Gleason receive coaching honors
Owatonna’s Joey Gleason, left, stands with his son, Justin, after a meet at Rochester Mayo early in the season. The elder Gleason earned Section 1AAA Assistant Coach of the Year honors for his efforts with the Huskies’ jumping athletes in 2023. Photo courtesy of Joey Gleason
Owatonna track and field head coach Kevin Stelter and assistant coach Joey Gleason received Coach of the Year honors in their respective positions for their contributions to the Huskies’ 2023 squad, which placed 15th at state and first in Section 1AAA.
Stelter is no stranger to recognition from his peers, having won the Minnesota State High School Coaches’ Association Boys’ Track and Field Coach of the Year award a season ago. Gleason enters the spotlight after his jump athletes scorched the field events this season, with multiple school and personal records.
“I’m just really proud of the program we’ve built and thankful for our staff. They’ve had a major play in our success. Joey Gleason, Luke Holt, Jerry Eggermont, Doug Maine, and Ken Ringhoffer have been instrumental in helping develop these athletes. I look at this award as a testament to our staff,” said Stelter.
Stelter has been the Huskies head coach for 24 years after serving his first nine as an assistant to former boys’ head coach and recently retired cross-country head coach Dave Chatelaine.
Gleason has been a member of Stelter’s staff for five years now, but 2023 was a particularly special season for him as he and his wife, Debby, watched their son, Justin, qualify for state in all four of his events.
“Last year when we got back from the state meet, I said to Justin, ‘You know, you and I make quite the team.’ Then we got right back to work with ideas for next season. Now, we’re already looking at some things to do to prepare him for college… The work is never really done, but it’s been special to be there with him and watch all of his hard work pay off,” said Gleason.
Justin – who won the state title in the long jump in 2022 – would go on to take third in the long jump and 4x200 relay, 10th in the triple jump, and 12th in the 200-meter dash.
While both Stelter and Gleason surely will look back fondly on 2023, the two will have a new horizon looming ahead for the 2024 season.
The beginning of the next school year will bring with it the opening of the new Owatonna High School campus and an upgraded training facility.
“We’re going to be moving on from our eight-lane latex track – which we loved and served us well – to a new nine-lane track next year. It’s going to be a beautiful layout, and I think we’re going to have one of the top facilities in the state,” said Stelter.