Dan Schwamberger enters his 17th season in 2023-24 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 2^nd at the 2017 NCAA DIII National Championships and have competed at Nationals as a team twelve of Schwamberger’s fourteen cross country seasons at Eau Claire (2020 season cancelled due to Covid), which include: 1^st in 2009, 2^nd in 2017, 4^th in 2010 and 2018, 5^th in 2008 & 2012, 8^th in 2007, 16^th in 2015, 17^th in 2011, 2014 & 2019, and 22^nd in 2021.  During Dan’s time at UWEC, thirteen women have earned fifteen NCAA individual All-American cross country awards, which is the most of any team in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) during this time.

During Schwamberger’s tenure the women’s team has won WIAC Championship nine times (2007, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’17, ’18 and ‘19).  In addition, individual WIAC Titles were won by Lucy Ramquist in 2015 and Lexie Tremble in 2019. 

The Blugold women have also excelled in the classroom earning a team cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher for the past fifteen 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’s team has finished in the top 10 or higher at Nationals six times in the past ten seasons; which include: 1^st in 2015, 3^rd in 2016, 7^th in 2014 and 2017, 9^th in 2013 and 10^th in 2012; and had a team or individual qualifier at Nationals twelve of Schwamberger’s fourteen cross country seasons at Eau Claire (2020 season cancelled due to Covid).  During Dan’s time at UWEC, eight men have earned fifteen NCAA individual All-American cross country awards, which is the most of any team in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) during this time and includes an individual national title by Darin Lau in 2017.

During Schwamberger’s tenure the men’s team has won WIAC Championship three times (2014, 2015 & 2016), and finished runner-up three times (2012, 2013 & 2018).  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 fourteen 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, 3K Steeplechase, 5K & 10K; has earned 65 All-American awards, won 41 individual WIAC titles, and set 31 school records.  His athletes have captured eight NCAA individual national titles (Sam Verkerke – 1500 in 2022, Kyler Lueck – Indoor & Outdoor 800m in 2019; Josh Thorson – Outdoor 5K in 2015, Indoor 3K & Indoor 5K in 2016; Aaron Easker – 10K in 2013 & Chris Wirtz – 3K steeplechase in 2010) and one relay national title (2015 men’s distance medley relay).  The women’s and men’s track & field team have finished in the top 10 at Nationals 29 times, including men’s team national titles in Outdoor 2022 & 2019, and Indoor 2022, 2016, and 2015.  

Additional Information

Schwamberger earned his IAAF level V / USATF level III endurance certification in November of 2019 and 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, including 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.

Updated: 7/6/23