Lynne Anderson Retires

The University of Minnesota assistant women’s track and field coach Lynne Anderson has retired. Anderson recently completed her 33rd season as a coach with the Golden Gophers’ track and field programs.

“Lynne has been a staple in the University of Minnesota Athletics Department and I want to thank her for all that she has done for the track programs,” said longtime women’s track and field and cross country head coach Gary Wilson. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Lynne for the last 28 years. She has been more like a sister to me than an assistant coach. Lynne will be missed in the Minnesota track and field community and I wish her the best of luck in retirement.”  

A 2003 Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, Anderson coached numerous Big Ten Conference Champions and NCAA All-Americans while at Minnesota. Most notably Rachel Lewis and Aubrey Schmitt, two of the most decorated throwers in Minnesota history.

Under the tutelage of Anderson, Lewis captured five All-America honors and six Big Ten titles and finished second at the NCAAs in both the shot put and discus at the 1990 championships. Schmitt, a former walk-on, won three consecutive Big Ten outdoor shot put titles and five conference crowns overall and was inducted into the University of Minnesota "M" Club Hall of Fame in 2008.

“I would like to thank my first women’s track head coach Mike Lawless for hiring me in 1980 and all of the athletic directors with whom I have worked,” said Anderson. “I would particularly like to thank Gary Wilson for his belief in my abilities.”  

A native of Eugene, Ore., Anderson, then Lynne Winbigler, was an All-American in the discus at the University of Oregon and earned a spot on both the 1976 and 1980 US Olympic Track and Field teams in the discus. She was the American record holder in the discus from 1977-79 and held personal bests of 189'6" in the discus and 51'5" in the shot put.

Anderson won the 1976 Olympic Trials, finished second in 1980 and sixth in 1984. In addition, she was a three-time (1976, 1978, 1979) US.champion, a member of the US squad at the 1979 Pan American Games and a World Cup participant in 1977 and 1979.

For all of her accomplishments, Oregon established the Winbigler Performer of the Year award, which honors the best performance on a national or international level by an Oregon athlete. She was inducted as a charter member of the Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.