In his 23 years in Champaign-Urbana, Gary Winckler led Illinois to 11 Big Ten women’s track and field team titles, and athletes to 266 Big Ten individual titles along with 51 student-athletes to 188 All-America honors. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year 11 times, and National Coach of the Year three times. Winkler was inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame in 2009. Before coming to Illinois, he coached at Florida State where he led the Seminole women to the 1984 NCAA outdoor title and the 1985 NCAA indoor championship, while also coaching more than 100 All-Americans. Long considered one of the nation’s top hurdles coaches, Winkler coached 13 different athletes to the Olympic games in the sprints, hurdles, or relays. His top Illini teams finished fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 1995 and 1996. Winckler was head coach of the U.S. World Championship team in 1997 and the 1989 World Indoor Championships. Four of his Illini student-athletes earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor. He retired from coaching at Illinois following the 2008 season.