Duane Lee left an impressive mark on Lincoln High School cross country and track and field
history as a student-athlete in the 1980s. However, it is his time as coach at his alma mater that
has completely rewritten the history books at the historic Tacoma school and earned this year’s
honor as the Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award recipient.

“It is an honor to be nominated for the Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award,” Lee
said. “As a local athlete, I enjoyed following Coach Westering throughout his career at Pacific
Lutheran University. I admired the accomplishments of the PLU program and was inspired by
the beliefs and messages that Coach Westering shared with his athletes and community. I am
humbled by this nomination.”

Born July 20, 1964, in Everett, Lee led the Abes’ cross country team to a ninth-place finish – the
highest in school history at the time – and held 10 of the 11 course records in cross country for
the school when he graduated in 1983. During track and field season, he helped lead the team
to a second-place state finish in 1981 and a fourth-place state finish in 1983.

For someone who placed his name all over his school’s record book, however, he has spent the
past 30-plus years coaching his name out of those top-10 positions.

Lee returned to his alma mater in 1993 as a volunteer assistant coach for the cross country and
track and field programs, and he has remained ever since. He officially joined the staff as an
assistant the following year, and in 2001 he was named head coach.

During those 32 years with the program, Lee has built a historic coaching resume. He has
overseen 74 changes to the Lincoln record boards – 41 new boys records and 33 girls records.
He has coached 15 individual state champions – 11 boys and 4 girls – along with one boys state
relay champion. His teams have claimed five league titles, two district titles, and a team state
championship in 2016.

Lee’s career achievements also include three Narrows League Coach of the Year honors and the
2016 Washington State Track & Field Coaches Association 3A Coach of the Year and US Track &
Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association Coach of the Year for the state of Washington.
While his roster of top runners is far too long to list, it includes Brandon Fuller and James
Mwaura. Both are among the best distance runners in city history, while Mwaura is one of the
best runners in state history and went on to an All-American collegiate career.

Lee’s presence at Lincoln expands beyond even the cross country and track and field positions.
He also served as an assistant basketball coach for the boys’ team for 11 years and for the girls’
team for six years. Since stepping away from the sideline in 2013, he has remained on the court
as an official in the area. During the school day, he is an Education Support Professional, serving
in classrooms to help students overcome all sorts of challenges to achieve success.

 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to coach at Lincoln High School,” Lee said. “I am proud of the
successes that our programs have seen over the years, and it is a thrill to see so many of my
former student-athletes thrive and become successful in their respective careers.”
After a highly-decorated prep career and more than three decades of coaching, Lee stands as
one of the most impactful Abes in Lincoln history, with more in store in the future.