Ben Duea has been around the sport of track and field for his entire life. 

“My earliest memories are at Drake Stadium, watching my dad’s teams at Valley,” says Duea. “He still has all of his VHS tapes of his teams in the 90’s and I see myself in the stands with his old athletes.”

From those special moments watching dad coach, to now leading his own program, this sport ties the Duea family together.

“It’s in the family DNA, that’s for sure,” he says. 

Coaching track and field is a four-generation profession for the Duea’s. Ben’s great grandpa coached in the 1930’s. His grandpa did the same for parts of four decades. His dad was Valley’s head coach in the 90’s and now Ben is coaching at Waukee Northwest, after a stop in Ames.

“I just learned so much from them as mentors,” says Duea. 

The Duea Family at the Drake Relays

The Drake Relays are the premier track and field event in the state of Iowa. The Duea family is celebrating the 2022 event in style. Ben’s grandpa will be attending his 80th Drake Relays.

“To see him still supporting me and giving me advice is really neat,” shares Duea. “It will be fun to spend the 80th Drake Relays with him this year.”

As one tradition reaches year 80, another is just beginning.

“We will start the first year with our son Jamison this year and continue on the family legacy,” says Ben.

The Duea Connection

The family legacy impacts their athletes as well. Duea’s runners say it’s easy to see the connection.

“I’ve known his dad for quite some time now, and my family has known his dad for some while,” says Waukee Northwest Senior Natalie Harris. “The passion and the love for the sport, has gone down in the generations.”

“A lot of us girls have really seen that part of him and have seen the results that he’s gotten us to,” adds Northwest Senior Mackenzie Carney. “He pushes us to be our best, but he’s also passionate about us as athletes.”

Building on the Family Legacy

The Duea passion for track field guides almost everything Ben is doing at Northwest. It’s also a popular topic of conversation. 

“Older coaches come up to me and ask how’s your dad doing? I get that 5-6 times, or how’s your dad doing from 5-6 people every meet,” says Ben. “It’s really neat to be able to create my own program within how my family has built programs.” 

Duea Family By the Numbers

• Ben Duea (Ben’s great grandfather) – Head Track Coach at Valley Junction (now WDM Valley) 1930-1938 and Fort Dodge from 1939-1954.
• Jim Duea Sr. (Ben’s grandfather) – Head Boys Track Humboldt 1960-71 and Ames Head Girls 1980-2002. Led the Cyclones to seven state titles. He’s a member of the Iowa Association of Track Coaches’ Hall of Fame.
• Jim Duea Jr. – Head Boys Track Valley 1990-1999. Led the Tigers to six conference championships and the 1998 state title.
• Ben – Head Boys Track Ames 2014-2021, Head Girls Track Ames 2018-2021 and Head Girls Track Waukee Northwest 2022-present. Led the Little Cyclones to Class 4A’s top five, five times.