The face of the DHS cross country and track programs will be changing next year after 19 years of coaching from social studies teacher Jeremy Kauffman. During his time at DHS,  Kauffman has led teams to state, laid the foundation for classes of alumni to become successful adults and shaped the entire distance program.

“They’ve been successful – and I don’t mean in terms of winning, I mean in terms of connecting with kids and getting kids to understand what’s right and wrong – you know, I was like wow, we’re going to miss that,” Athletic Director Robert Ruiz said.

With both of his daughters now in junior high, Kauffman wants to spend more time with them and hopes to be more involved in their lives. He explained that he wants to spend the next seven years focusing on his daughters. Although the team atmosphere will be different without Kauffman, senior captain Alex Wolfe is certain that the team will continue to be successful.

“No matter whose leading the team, I think they’re going to be okay,” Wolfe said.

Over the years, teams led by Kauffman have placed at countless meets, won conference titles, and even qualified for state. Behind all that success is a philosophy that is ingrained in every runner at DHS, which places great importance on the individual self.

“To be a better athlete, you have to be a better person. I don’t think I’ve ever had a year where I think I’ve had a bad kid.  They’re all great kids.  If you show them that you know what you’re doing, and you have a passion for what you’re doing, and you commit to them, you can win in Deerfield,” Kauffman said.

Reflecting on his years as a coach, Kauffman is happiest when he sees alumni return with their own stories of family, success and happiness.

“Hearing about all the amazing things they’re doing, I mean, across the planet. I mean, the alumni base is just impressive. It’s just a great group of guys, and men,” Kauffman explained.

Kauffman prides himself on communicating  a message to the team that will not just help them in-season but also teach them life lessons that will impact their work ethic and morals as they graduate from DHS.

“I really think he’s the best coach in the country,” Class of 2010 alum Scott Friedlander said.

Finding someone who will impact the team the same way will be a hard task, but with only a few months left until his last coaching days, DHS has plans for finding someone to fill Kauffman’s place.

“We’ve got some proper channels that we go through, you know.  We’ll post the job internally, we’ll post it out on the web. We’ll let the other conferences know that we’re looking for a head coach in both of those areas. We’ll let the national organizations know, as well, because you never know when you might have a teacher in Southern Illinois who wants to move here and there happens to be a teaching job here or in the area,” Ruiz explained.

With major leadership changes on the horizon,  Kauffman is confident that his assistants are well-prepared and that one of them could end up heading the programs. He also believes that his athletes are prepared. After almost two decades, the traditions that Kauffman created, the spirit he imparted to each of his athletes and the titles that he and his team have won will continue to leave a lasting impression on the program.

“I will not be a coach hanging around and undermine the new coach, when you finish something, you’ve got to totally walk away,” Kauffman said.