Jane Vatchev established a legacy of success in her 13 seasons as head coach for the men's and women's track and field teams.
 
Her teams won a combined eight NJCAA Division III titles, more than any other head coach in department history. Those eight titles — four men's and four women's — highlight a total of 72 national champions, 213 All-Americans and 70 Academic All-Americans from 2000 to 2012. Eighteen of her 21 teams placed in the top 5 in Division III competition.
 
Those accolades explain why she was named to the 2023 NJCAA Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame, the association announced.
 
"It is a thrill of a lifetime and humbling experience to be seen as worthy of this award,'' Vatchev said. "I am honored to have represented the College of DuPage during my coaching career. This award is not possible without the support of my assistant coaches throughout the years and the quality and dedication of the many athletes I had the pleasure coaching.''
 
The Chaps' men's team won team titles in 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2010 and the women won in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004. National champion triple jumper Troy Doris, who later competed at Iowa, finished seventh in his event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
 
Vatchev, a physical education assistant professor since 1999, was named the 2022-23 COD Outstanding Faculty Member. She founded the COD Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and will be inducted into this year's class June 3.
 
"Jane's accolades on the field of competition says it all,'' COD Director of Athletics and Recreation Ryan Kaiser said. "Her skill of motivating and succeeding with non-scholarship athletes is simply remarkable. Recruiting, training and retention of student-athletes doesn't just happen. Her ability of reaching young adults and finding ways at peaking their athleticism when it matters most is the calling card of success at any level of collegiate coaching. She did that over the course of her entire coaching career here at COD.''
 
The NJCAA Class of 2023 includes Tony Dougherty of New Mexico College, and Vincennes' Tim Marsee and Matteo Capellow.
 
Jane and her husband Oleg are the parents of Michael and Helena and make their home in Carol Stream.