Pella Head Cross Country Coach Doug Cutler was selected for a rare honor from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches.

Cutler won both head coach of the year for the Class 3A boys and girls — mirroring the Class 3A championships both won on October 29th. Cutler has been honored as an at-large coach nearly every season he’s been with the Dutch since he took over the Pella programs, and was the state’s boys cross country coach of the year in 2009 and 2011. Doug’s teams have won four team cross country titles since moving to the Tulip City (2009, 2011, 2022 boys; 2022 girls), and he’s also been the assistant coach for Boys Head Coach Brent Van Hauen and the track and field championship teams in 2013, 2016, and 2021 and the 2018 Pella girls state team track title winners.

Robin Hammann of Pella was also chosen as the state’s assistant cross country coach of the year. Robin, a science teacher at Pella High School, has worked with Cutler since they both joined the Dutch cross country teams in 2005. The state award given by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches is for the top assistant coach in Iowa, regardless of class. Hammann was selected as boys assistant of the year in 2011.

Pella Christian Head Coach Mike Buchheit–a former long time assistant of Cutler’s at Pella, was one of five coaches chose as At-Large 2A Boys Coach of the Year. Buchheit was honored for his work with the Class 1A Eagles state qualifying boys in 2021.

Chad Larson of Norwalk was chosen as a Class 4A boys At-Large coach of the year as well. He earned the same recognition in 2021.