Coach Lawson is an assistant coach specializing in the throws.
Originally from Ottumwa, Iowa, Don competed in football, wrestling and track earning All-Conference and honorable mention All-State in football and a Drake Qualifier in the discus. Coach Lawson graduated from Northeast Missouri State University (presently Truman State University) where he competed in track and field and wrestling. Don was an assistant coach in track and field and football at Eddyville, Iowa for one year and at Ottumwa High School for six years.
In 1974 Coach Lawson began teaching physical education and health at Dubuque Senior as well as an assistant coach in track and field and football. Starting in 1982, he became head coach until his retirement in 2006
During his coaching career at Dubuque Senior High, Coach Lawson earned numerous awards. He was a three-time Iowa State Regional Coach of the Year, five-time Mississippi Valley Conference Coach of the Year, Drake Relays High School Referee in 2000, and was three times asked to coach Junior Olympic Track and Field Teams that toured Spain and China. Don has been a speaker on the throws at track and field clinics. His "Sport Flips" (hand held visual aids) on track and field events were published and distributed worldwide.
During Coach Lawson's 24 years as head coach, Dubuque Senior's track program became a highly respected and very competitive one statewide. His teams were MVC Champions five times:1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. The 1996 team earned the State Track Meet Runner-up position. Four other Senior High teams finish in the Top 10 at State. During Don's tenure as head coach, Senior track teams claimed 19 City Meet titles. Senior High excelled with 15 State Meet event champions (including State and Drake Champion in the shot put) and 13 school records (including the discus record) were set.
In 2008 Coach Lawson was inducted into the Dubuque Senior High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Don currently lives in Dubuque with his wife Keri, who is a health/physical education teacher and head volleyball coach in Cuba City, Wisconsin. Don presently supervises physical education student teachers at the University of Dubuque.
| # | Name | Cl. | Pos. | Ht. | Hometown | Previous School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaveria Allen | JR | Sprints | 5-8 | Jacksonville, Fla | Georgia Perimeter College | |
| Lauren Austin | FR | Thrower | 5-6 | Dubuque, Iowa | Dubuque Senior HS | |
| Katie Bergman | SO | Pole Vault | 5-5 | Sugar Grove, Ill. | Kaneland HS | |
| Morgan Bradford | JR | Pole Vault | 5-3 | Anderson, S.C. | T.L. Hanna HS | |
| Kaila Dalen | SO | Sprints | 5-4 | East Dubuque, Ill. | East Dubuque HS | |
| Hannah Day | JR | Sprints/Jumps | 5-3 | Rockford, Ill. | Boylan Central Catholic HS | |
| Brittany Demmer | FR | Throws/Sprints | 5-7 | Dubuque, Iowa | Hempstead HS | |
| Carley Freund | SR | Long Sprints | 5-7 | Crystal Lake, Ill. | Crystal Lake South HS | |
| Grace Gordon | FR | Distance | 5-5 | St. Charles, Ill | St. Charles East HS | |
| Darisse Humphries | FR | Sprints/Hurdles | 5-5 | Arlington, Texas | Bowie HS | |
| Courtney Klein | FR | Distance | 5-0 | Dubuque, Iowa | Dubuque Senior HS | |
| Kari Klein | SR | Hurdles | 5-5 | Epworth, Iowa | Western Dubuque HS | |
| Megan Lehmkuhl | FR | Sprints | 5-4 | Clinton, Iowa | Prince of Peace | |
| Sam Mammoser | SO | Sprints | 5-4 | West Chicago, Ill | St. Francis College Prep | |
| Katrina Moyna | JR | Long Sprints | 5-10 | Elkader, Iowa | Central Community HS | |
| Jessica Nessan | SR | Hurldes/Jumps | 5-5 | Dubuque, Iowa | Dubuque Senior HS | |
| Lauren Palmer | JR | Jumps/Hurdles | 5-7 | Dubuque, Iowa | Dubuque Senior HS | |
| Carrie Pieper | FR | Distance | 5-9 | Adel, Iowa | ADM HS | |
| Jasmine Riesberg | FR | Sprints | 5-7 | Carroll, Iowa | Carroll HS | |
| Amanda Ruddy | SR | Sprints | 5-5 | Aurora, Ill. | West Aurora HS | |
| Katie Sebastian | FR | Sprints | 5-6 | Eldridge, Iowa | North Scott HS | |
| Elyssa Zielke | SR | Hurdles/Sprints | 5-4 | Bristol, Ill. | Aurora Christian School |
