Deborah Callahan (3rd Season)
Deborah Callahan is in her third season as head coach for the MSU Northern’s Cross Country and Distance Track program. Raised south of Havre, she graduated from Havre High School and earned a degree from Northern Montana College (now MSU Northern) before she launched a distinguished banking career that spanned 43 years, before retiring in 2024.
While at MSU Northern, she has worked to rebuild the running program. This year's team includes 12 dedicated athletes. Last season, the Lights finished 4th at the Frontier Conference meet in Billings, with James Stensland-Plymale qualifying for the NAIA National Championship in Columbus, Missouri. One runner also earned Daktronics NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors twice and Academic All-Conference recognition once.
Family is a priority for her; she and her spouse have a blended family of four children and six grandchildren. Motivated by her children’s cross-country pursuits, she became a runner herself and has finished 27 half marathons in pursuit of her goal to run one in each state.
“My enthusiasm for running compels me to mentor and inspire our team. Unity and teamwork are the cornerstones of success. This season, by fostering a spirit of collaboration, perseverance, and mental toughness, alongside our shared love for running, we will empower the Northern Cross Country and Distance Track programs. My goal is to guide us onward, drawing wisdom from past experiences as we shape our future together.”
