Dodge City Community College Athletics

Bob & Donnis Schmitt
Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches

Bob & Donnis Schmitt who married on April 13, 1952 left lasting legacy at Dodge City Community College coaching the cross country and track and field teams for several years in the 70's and early 80's. 

The duo coached two of the College's National Championship teams in school history guiding the women's track and field team to the 1976 National Championship, while also coaching the 1978 women's cross country National Championship team. 

The Schmitt's started the women's track and field program at Dodge City and in 1976 the Conquistadors hosted the first ever NJCAA Women's Track and Field National Championship and beat out 16 other teams for the title. The team scored 128 points to edge out Flathead Valley by seven points for the title. Team consisted of 10 athletes, including Charmane Kuhlman Kandt who won three individual titles (long jump, 440-yard dash, and 220-yard dash) & was high-point winner at the meet. Other members of the team included: Linda Austin, Nicky Proehl Holloway, Glenda Riney Davis, Doreen Tracy Ewing, Lucia Von Lintel, Connie Zveglich, Carlene Thompson Wilkening, Brenda Crockett Roenbaugh and Lynn Head. 

In 1978 the Schmitt's lead the Conquistador women's cross country to the National Championship. The nine member team consisted of eight runners from Kansas and one from Illinois. Team consisted of: Debbie Sabotka Darr, Glenda Stewart Wentworth, Janet Wilson Sanders, Juanita Neff Jones, Julia Reed Hays, Julie Liska Schroeder, Peggy Whipple Young, Tonia Comer, and Tammy Tucker Mize. 

Donnis was not only impactful in starting women's track and field at Dodge City but she made an impact that the national level in the NJCAA as she was one of the founding officers of the women's division in 1975. She served as the secretary and treasurer for the NJCAA women's division from 1975-79 and was first ever women's Region VI Director.