The last time we checked in with Mankato Loyola graduate Dan Schwamberger, he had just won the national title in the 5,000-meter run at the NCAA Division III National Indoor Track and Field Championships.

That occurred in the winter of 2000 when Schwamberger was a senior for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. As it turns out, he’s not just a good distance runner, he’s a pretty good coach, too.

This fall, nine years after winning his individual title, the 31-year-old coached the Wisconsin-Eau Claire women’s team to a Division III national cross country championship. He also guided the Blugolds to a 16th-place finish in their first national tournament appearance in a decade.

For his efforts, Schwamberger has been recognized as the 2009 NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Coaching is not the road Schwamberger envisioned he would take when he entered college, but, so far, its turned out to be a nice career path for the Mankato native.

“I went to Stevens Point because they had a good natural resources program and I majored in forest management,” Schwamberger said. “As I was finishing up I was helping out with the track and cross country teams and I realized I really enjoyed coaching.”

By the time he reached his final semester, he knew he wanted to give coaching a shot, so he took some coaching-related courses. Upon graduation, he was accepted into graduate school at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Two years later, in the spring of 2004, he had earned a master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis on athletic administration.

He spent the next three years as an assistant track and cross country coach at Wisconsin-Platteville. When the head-coaching position at Eau Claire opened up in 2007, he applied and was given the job.

“I was fortunate in that I inherited a strong women’s team my first year,” Schwamberger said. “The previous season they had finished second in the conference. The men’s team was much younger and required more work.

“The amazing thing to me was how both teams bought into my system so quickly. They were open to what I had to say and they went to work trying to achieve the goals we had set up.”

The women progressed quickly. They were 23rd at nationals the year before Schwamberger arrived, moved up to eighth in his first season and were fifth in 2008.

“The top four teams get a trophy so we were motivated this year to go back and get into the top four,” he said. “And most coaches agree that if you can get into the top four, anything can happen on race day. This year it worked out in favor.”

Alyssa Sybilrud was the Blugolds’ top runner at nationals with a 21st place time of 22:37 on the 6,000-meter course in Cleveland, Ohio. Sybilrud’s uncle, Mark, was a two-time All-American in cross country for Minnesota State in the early 1980s. Alyssa was followed at nationals by teammates Margaret Ho (33rd, 22:51), Beth Esker (44th, 23:04), Hannah Humbach (45th, 23:04) and Jenna Smith (110th, 23:42).

The Eau Claire men, who had much further to go than the women, have also improved significantly. They were 16th at regionals in Schwamberger’s first year, sixth at regionals last season and moved up to 16th in the nation this fall.

“The biggest challenge for the men was getting them to believe they had the talent to be competitive on a national level,” Schwamberger said. “Their confidence is growing. They’re already looking forward to next season.”

Through all his success, Schwamberger hasn’t forgotten his roots. He credits former Loyola High School coach Chris Thiem with pointing him in the right direction.

“He’s one of the first people I called the day we won nationals,” Schwamberger said. “I still consider him my mentor.”



Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@mankatofreepress.com.