Dan Schwamberger

Dan Schwamberger enters his twelfth season in 2018-2019 school year as the head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men’s and women’s cross country teams. Schwamberger is also the middle/long distance coach for the men’s and women’s track and field teams.

Team Philosophy

The foundation of the UW-Eau Claire cross country / middle and long distance running program is a positive team environment where everyone is respected. A strong work ethic with an emphasis on training smart, enjoying competition and having fun are the key components of our training philosophy. Student athletes who have embraced this philosophy have achieved great success in running and, more importantly, in the classroom and their careers after college.

Women’s Cross Country

In 2009, the UW-Eau Claire women’s cross country team won the NCAA Division III team national title and Schwamberger was named the NCAA Division III women’s cross country Coach of the Year. This is the second national title in program history, which also includes the 1984 NAIA team crown. The Blugold women placed 2nd at the 2017 NCAA DIII National Championships and have competed at Nationals as a team nine of Schwamberger’s eleven years at Eau Claire, which include: 1st in 2009, 2nd in 2017, 4th in 2010, 5th in 2008 & 2012, 8th in 2007, 16th in 2015, and 17th in 2011 and 2014. During this time, eleven runners have earned thirteen NCAA Individual All-American awards (top 35 individual national finish).

During Schwamberger’s tenure the women’s team has won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships seven times (2007, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12 and ’17). In addition, Lucy Ramquist won the individual WIAC title in 2015.

The Blugold women have also excelled in the classroom earning a team cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher for the past eleven years, including the 2009 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic team of the year award.

Men’s Cross Country

In 2015 the UW-Eau Claire men’s cross country team won their first NCAA Division III national title in program history and Schwamberger was named the NCAA Division III Men’s cross country Coach of the Year. The Blugold men have had a team or individual qualifier at Nationals nine of Schwamberger’s eleven years at Eau Claire, which include the following team national places: 1st in 2015, 3rd in 2016, 7th in 2014 and 2017, 9th in 2013, 10th in 2012, and 16th in 2009. During this time seven runners have earned thirteen NCAA All-American awards (top 35 individual national finish) including an individual national title by Darin Lau in 2017.

During Schwamberger’s tenure the men’s team has won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships three times (2014, 2015 & 2016), and finished runner-up twice (2012 & 2013). In addition, individual WIAC Titles were won by Josh Thorson in 2014 and Darin Lau in 2017.

The Blugold men have also excelled in the classroom earning a team cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for the past ten years, including the 2015 USTFCCCA All-Academic team of the year award.

Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field – Middle/Long Distance

On the track during Schwamberger’s tenure the women’s and men’s middle and long distance crew; which includes the following events: Indoor Distance Medley Relay, 800, 1500, Mile, 3K, Steeplechase, 5K & 10K; has earned 55 All-American awards, set 24 school records, won 28 individual WIAC titles, captured five NCAA individual national titles (Chris Wirtz – 3K steeplechase national champion in 2010, Aaron Easker – 10K national champion in 2013 & Josh Thorson – 5K national champion in 2015, Indoor 3K & Indoor 5K National Champion in 2016) and one relay national title (2015 men’s distance medley relay).

Additional Information

Schwamberger is USATF Level II Certified in the middle/long distance events and earned the USTFCCCA strength & conditioning specialist certification in December of 2014.

Prior to UW Eau-Claire Dan was the assistant cross country and track & field coach at UW-Platteville from 2004-2007. He was a graduate assistant track & field coach at Loras College from 2002-2004 where he earned his master’s degree in physical education.

Schwamberger earned his bachelor’s degree in Forest Management from UW-Stevens Point, where he competed for four seasons in cross country and track. He was a two-time All-American in cross country and five-time track All-American, which includes winning an NCAA National Title in the indoor 5K. In addition, Dan was a GTE First Team Academic All-American in track and the WIAC scholar athlete award winner in cross country. In October 2012, Schwamberger was inducted into the UW-Stevens Point Athletic Hall of Fame.

Dan is married to Marcie, who works full-time in the Eau Claire School District as a middle school physical education teacher and also coaches cross country and track & field at UW-Eau Claire.