Colleen Finn-Henze to be Honored As Jerry Petitgoue Coaches Award
Feb 9, 2018
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque is pleased to announce the 2018 recipient of the Jerry Petitgoue Coaches Award is Colleen Finn-Henze (C’87). This award named in honor of Wisconsin Hall of Fame coach Jerry Petitgoue, long-time boys basketball coach at Cuba City, Wis. Petitgoue is the winningest coach in the state of Wisconsin history with over 900 wins. In his 51st year of coaching, he has 29 conference championships at Cuba City and three State Championships (1981, 1991, and 1998). Cuba City was the state runner-up in 2012.
Petitgoue was a 1963 graduate of the University of Dubuque and this special award was established in his honor to an alumnus coach who best represents Petitgoue’s tenacity, strong work ethic, and care for athletes of any age, at any level. Petitgoue was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003.
Colleen Finn-Henze a native of Stockton, Ill., graduated from the University of Dubuque in 1987 with a degree in education. During her time at UD, Colleen was a member of the basketball, softball, and volleyball teams and the Delta Phi Sigma sorority.
After graduation, she started teaching health and physical education at Eastland High School in Lanark, Ill., where she has remained for the past 29 years. She has coached volleyball, softball, track, cross country, and basketball. As the head coach of the Lady Cougars for 24 years, Colleen amassed 484 victories – (14) 20-win seasons, (11) Regional championships, (10) Conference championships, (3) Sectional championships, and a 3rd place finish at the 2014 Class 1A IHSA State Tournament. She was inducted into the Northwest Illinois Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015.
Colleen and her husband, Karl, reside in Shannon, Ill., with their three children, Kaden, Erin, and Kellen.
UD will present the Jerry Petitgoue Coaching Award to Colleen Finn-Henze during halftime of the UD vs. Loras men's basketball game on Feb. 17, 2018 in Stoltz Sports Center. Tip-off is 2:00 p.m. for the women's game and 4:00 p.m. for the men's game.
Recipients of the University of Dubuque Jerry Petitgoue Award:
2018 – Colleen Finn-Henze Class of 1987
2016 – Jon West Class of 1973
2015 – Jay Herkelman Class of 1986
2014 – Clay Shaffer Class of 1973
2013 – Paul Rundquist Class of 1996
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For additional information, please contact Paul Misner, director of sports information, at 563.589.3168.
