Wintermute wins IHSA Girls’ Track and Field Coach of the Year

Prospect Girls’ Track & Field Varsity head Coach Pete Wintermute has had the honor of coaching amazing athletes who have won state titles and have gone on to compete at the collegiate level during his time as varsity coach. However, the spotlight was on him when Coach Wintermute was named IHSA Girls’ Track and Field Coach of the Year.

Wintermute didn’t even know he was in contention for the award until the envelope was on his desk one morning. He originally thought it may have been a request for some missing paperwork but to his surprise, it was a congratulatory letter for this amazing honor. The award came as a complete shock to him and was never something he was focused on. It is easy to label this as an individual award that just acknowledges Wintermute, but he was quick to show that this was truly a team award. 

“I was glad to see something like that, to recognize Prospect High School, to recognize our program,” Wintermute said, “…what we did last season as a team was a result of probably one of the best coaching staffs in the state. I don’t do what I’d do as a head coach without the support of eight other coaches, awesome athletes, awesome parents, and a really good senior class that stepped up when they needed to.”

Wintermute never pursued coaching with the intent to be recognized as an individual. His humble self didn’t even tell the program about the honor, in fact, he told nobody. He only told his wife, who then spread the news amongst the other coaches. 

Wintermute began coaching with the intent to have a positive impact on athletes and help them achieve goals that they previously thought were unattainable. 

“I think ultimately sports is a great place to realize you’re capable of a lot,” Wintermute said, “The key is having belief in yourself and having a support network around you that also believes in you.”

Wintermute puts his team and the overall success of the program above personal accolades. He believes his role isn’t to take credit for the success but rather to help his athletes perform at elite levels and reach new heights. No matter how much Coach Wintermute downplays the award out of humility, being recognized as the best coach in the state by the IHSA is truly an amazing achievement.