Ian Roberts competing for Coppin State University.
Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts has been inducted into the Coppin State University (CSU) Athletics Hall of Fame for his achievements as a track & field and cross-country athlete and lifelong leader. Roberts says the honor is a celebration and a testimony to the power of second chances which began with the wisdom of one CSU coach.
The story begins when Roberts was a young man applying to colleges and athletic programs.
“I was rejected by four Division I college coaches in a single day, all saying I wasn’t good or fast enough for a scholarship. But the fifth – a Coppin State University coach – saw and invested in my potential, rather than judging my current performance.”
That support ignited his dedication to excellence, motivating him to record the names of those four colleges on his dorm refrigerator as a daily reminder.
“I never lost an 800m to any athlete from those colleges,” he shared.
More than that, CSU boasts Roberts as its first men’s NCAA All-American in any sport. He earned the honor by finishing sixth in the 800m at the National Indoor Championships in 1998. Roberts went on to win both the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor & Outdoor Championships in the event in both 1997 and 1998. He still holds the CSU record in the 800m and held the MEAC record in the event for over a decade.
After graduating from Coppin, he also won a pair of Big East titles at St. John’s and earned All-America accolades in the 800m in 1999. He won the 1999 Caribbean Championships and was the first CSU athlete to compete at the Olympics, representing Guyana in the 800m at the 2000 Olympics.
Roberts excelled academically and was a 1998 CoSIDA Academic All-American and completed education programs at Coppin, St. John’s, Morgan State, Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business and an MBA at MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
Dr. Roberts applies the lessons of resilience and faith in potential at DMPS, focusing on empowering staff and students to exceed their perceived limits.
“Today, my life’s journey is anchored in leadership and service that prioritizes potential over current performance in children and adults,” he said. “I owe Coppin State University a debt of gratitude for the formidable academic foundation, as well as the lifelong friendships formed across sports, culture, and class.”
The CSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be inducted during Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, February 22, prior to the Eagles’ doubleheader against Norfolk State.
Roberts shared on LinkedIn that his thoughts at times like this turn to his mother, who inspired his journey: “Mama, your son will be a Hall of Fame inductee!”
