Twelve years ago, Connie Teaberry led a different life in track and field.

In 1996, Teaberry took part in the Olympic games in Atlanta, where she competed in the high jump.

These days, Teaberry coaches women’s track and field and cross country at NIU, where she has been at the helm of the two programs since 2004.

“I’m Coach Teaberry. [The team] doesn’t really look at it as ‘I’m walking around with an Olympian,” she said.

In the beginning

Teaberry started high jumping in the sixth grade and participated in track and basketball at Lutheran North High School in St. Louis.

After high school, Teaberry went on to Kansas State University, where she had a very successful and decorated career. Teaberry was a six-time All-American in the high jump during her time in Manhattan, and in her senior year alone, she was named the Most Valuable Female Athlete at the Big Eight indoor meet, the Kansas State Woman of the Year recipient and the NCAA Athlete of the Year.

“I really took [the high jump] as a thing as a means to an end to get my education,” Teaberry said. “I never really thought at that point that I would be a six-time All-American.”

Life after college

After graduating from Kansas State, Teaberry decided to head to the trials for the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona, Spain.

Needing to place third to make the U.S. Olympic team in the high jump, Teaberry finished 10th in the event, seven spots short.

“I think in ‘92, it was a thing of disappointment, but I didn’t really expect at that point to make it coming out of college,” Teaberry said. “But it gave me great insight on the ability that I did have. It sparked me wanting to go professional.”

Teaberry was forced to wait four years for her next shot at the Olympics. While she trained in preparation for the Olympic trials, Teaberry started her coaching career as an assistant at the University of Kentucky and moved on to the University of Toledo in 1995. Teaberry also made the U.S. World Championship team in 1993 and 1995.

An Olympian at last

In June 1996, Teaberry got her shot at Atlanta.

Teaberry finished second at the trials, earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team and making her dream of reaching the Olympics a reality.

“At that time, when I stepped on that track, I expected to make that team,” Teaberry said. “I wanted to make that team, and it was very important to me and that’s what I went after.”

Teaberry said she relished the opportunity to compete in front of family and friends, and to compete in front of the U.S. fans.

“Track and field barely gets any accolade; it’s got to be a big event for it to be big in the United States,” Teaberry said. “It was huge to be able to represent my country and be here while my mom, my dad and my aunt could come and watch me compete.”

July 19, 1996, the opening ceremonies, was Teaberry’s first Olympic experience.

Teaberry waited more than five hours with the rest of the U.S. Olympians to be introduced.

“They brought us in at 6 o’clock,” Teaberry said. “We were sitting over at the baseball stadium waiting for them to get to the United States. We didn’t even get called in until I think about 11:30 to 12.”

After the opening ceremonies, Teaberry went back to Kentucky to train.

Heartbreak in Atlanta

Teaberry arrived back in Atlanta a few days before she was scheduled to compete in the high jump. Finally, it was time to compete at the Olympic games.

Teaberry jumped 1.90 meters at the event. However, the mark for qualifying was 1.93 meters, leaving Teaberry tied for 15th place and just short of qualifying, ending her Olympic career.

“I was disappointed, but, in the same breath, still excited to have been there,” Teaberry said. “It was still a good meet for me, but I wanted to do so much better. I can still look back and say I had a great competition.”

Life after the Olympics

After the Olympics, Teaberry coached at Toledo until 1998. She went on to assistant coaching jobs at Arizona State and Ohio before coming to DeKalb in 2004.

NIU athletes have broken multiple school records under Teaberry, and the school will also open a brand new track next season.

“We’ve always heard about her stories, and it’s really exciting to know that we’re being trained by an Olympian,” said Elizabeth Berquist, a member of the NIU track team.

“She doesn’t really bring it up on a day-to-day basis,” said track team member Carolyn Vasquez. “We’ll say how we really respect her because she has so much experience.”