EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Director of Athletics Dan Schumacher has announced the hiring of Rob Erickson as the new head coach of Blugold football. Erickson joins UW-Eau Claire from South Dakota State University and will be the 18th coach in program history.
"After an extensive search with over 60 applicants, I am excited to announce that Rob Erickson will be our next head football coach," Schumacher said. "Rob brings a wealth of experience in the WIAC, Division III and Division I. We are excited to welcome the Erickson family to the UW-Eau Claire Blugold family!"
Erickson has extensive experience in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and at the NCAA Division I FCS level as an assistant coach. He has coached in three national championship games at various levels over the last five years and is a two-time WIAC Assistant Coach of the Year. He won an FCS national title with South Dakota State last season.
"I am humbled and excited to be named the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire," Erickson said. "I would like to say thank you to the search committee, Athletic Director Dan Schumacher, and our Chancellor, Dr. James Schmidt, for believing in me to lead Blugold football."
Erickson brings a wealth of championship-caliber experience to Blugold football. Most recently, he served as special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach for three seasons at South Dakota State. Erickson coached in two FCS national championship games, helping the Jackrabbits win the 2022 national title and earn a runner-up finish in the spring of 2021. He was part of a defensive coaching staff that led a unit which ranked first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in total defense, scoring defense, interceptions and several other statistical categories. One of the cornerbacks under Erickson's guidance, Don Gardner, now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League.
Prior to his time at South Dakota State, Erickson was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at UW-Whitewater for five seasons. In his final year with the Warhawks, Erickson's defense helped the program reach the 2019 national championship game. He helped coach UW-Whitewater to the national semifinals three times and the national quarterfinals four times. Erickson was named the WIAC Assistant Coach of the Year in 2016. He coached 11 All-Americans and 16 All-Region players with the Warhawks.
Erickson helped push UW-Platteville – his alma mater – into the upper echelon nationally from 2008-2014 as the Pioneers' associate head coach and defensive coordinator. The team went 2-8 in the season prior to Erickson's arrival, and his defense elevated the program to a top 10 national ranking and the second round of the NCAA playoffs just a few years later in 2013. In his first year on staff, the 2008 Pioneers defense posted back-to-back conference shutouts for the first time since 1950. In his seven years with UW-Platteville, the Pioneers tallied five shutouts and held 21 opponents to single digits in scoring. Erickson received WIAC Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2011.
He also had stints as defensive coordinator at Aurora University (2005-07) and UW-Stevens Point (2003-04). He coached an All-American and three All-Region performers at Aurora, and helped the Pointers rank third in the WIAC in scoring defense.
Erickson played collegiately at UW-Platteville from 1996-99. He was a four-year starter at cornerback for the Pioneers. The Junction City, Wisconsin native and his wife Kelly, have three children – Maya, Jared, and Kami.
"I have been blessed to have worked with so many great players and coaches during my time in athletics that have helped me get to this position today," Erickson said. "I will forever be grateful. My family has been the foundation of my support and I can't thank them enough for all the sacrifices they have made and the unconditional love they have given me. I look forward to connecting with alumni, prospective students, our current team, and the fans of Blugold football. We have a nationally renowned university in a great city with state-of-the-art facilities that are close to being finished. The future is bright. I can't wait to get started."
Erickson takes over the role of head coach from Wesley Beschorner, who guided the Blugolds from 2019-2022.
