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Mens Track - Coaching Staff
Head Coach - Josh Buchholtz
Josh Buchholtz was named the UW-La Crosse head men’s track &
field coach October 30, 2008. He will also serve as an assistant cross country coach for the Eagles’ men’s and women’s squads and work in athletic administration.
“This is an very exciting time for me and my family,” said Buchholtz. “How can someone in my position not be excited? I have the opportunity to be part of the great city of La Crosse, a thriving and progressive UW-L campus community, a top-notch academic and athletic staff and I get to work with student-athletes from arguably one of the nation’s top track and field as well as cross country programs.”
Buchholtz has served as men’s track & field head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stout since 2002. He added the women’s track & field head coaching position in 2007. The Blue Devils have had 31 NCAA Division III qualifiers on the men’s team under Buchholtz and 24 on the women’s squad. Buchholtz, who also served as a physical education instructor at UW-Stout, was the Blue Devils’ men’s cross country head coach from 2002-07.
A 2000 graduate from UW-La Crosse, Buchholtz was the Eagles’ women’s track & field assistant coach from 2000-02. He has worked as a member of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Track & Field Meet Administration staff and served as a meet director of four high school meets annually, including the 52-team Northern Badger Track and Field Classic. Buchholtz was Co-Meet Director of the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Cross Country Championships and 2004 WIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
He was the equipment manager of the physical education department at UW-Stout and handled the Blue Devils’ track & field/cross country laundry and equipment.
Buchholtz is a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and was elected the 2008-09 WIAC Track & Field Sports Chair.
“Returning to the La Crosse area at some point has always been in the back of my mind and I am looking forward to making this step,” added Buchholtz. “In the short amount of time I spent with the track & field team during the interview process, I realized there is no doubt these men are ready to prove something this year. From what I gather, the attitude on the team is nothing short of pure determination. I look forward to meeting and working with each of them once I am on campus and it is time to get to the business of the upcoming season.”
Philip Whitesitt - Associate Head Coach – Throws
Philip Whitesitt enters his second year as a member of the Eagles’ coaching staff in 2008-09. His responsibilities include coaching the throwing events and assisting with administrative duties. Whitesitt was a member of the UW-L track and field program during the 2001-2004 seasons when the team won eight straight national championships. He was a four-time NCAA III All-American in the 35-pound weight throw and the hammer.
Whitesitt coached the throwing events at La Crescent High School from 2005-2007. He completed his undergraduate work in 2005 from UW-L in physical education and is currently completing his master’s program in human performance at UW-L.
Phil Esten – Volunteer Assistant Coach
Phil Esten is in his fourth year as a volunteer assistant coach in 2008-09. He served as head coach of the UW-L men’s cross country program for 28 years, retiring after the 1998 season. Esten guided the Eagles to a national championship competition in 27 of those seasons. He led UW-L to a NCAA III title in 1996 and posted 26 consecutive top-10 finishes at nationals. In addition to the national title, UW-L finished as the national runner-up eight times under Esten. UW-L won 20 WIAC titles during his tenure and never finished lower than third in the league. Esten coached 28 runners to 46 All-American honors. A 1965 graduate of UW-L, Esten was inducted into the UW-L and NAIA District Hall of Fames in 1990, and the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches’ Association Hall in 1993.
He was named the 1996 Division III Co-Coach of the Year. He earned his master’s degree and Ed.D. from the University of Northern Colorado.
Doug Geiwitz – Assistant Coach
Doug Geiwitz is in his 12th year as a member of the Eagles’ coaching staff in 2008-09. He coaches the pole vault. Geiwitz is credited with coaching three National Champions which include; Matt Novak, Nick Pergande, and Hans Schmidt who was a five-time national pole vault champion (three outdoor; two indoor) and a six-time NCAA III All-American. Geiwitz has coached 21 other All-Americans at UW-L. Geiwitz, a 1991 graduate of UW-L, was a two-time All-American in the pole vault for the Eagles. He was the 1990 outdoor national champion and was third at the 1990 indoor meet.
He is in his seventh year of teaching at Sparta High Point School. Prior to teaching at High Point, Geiwitz taught for five years at Beloit Memorial High School and Sparta High School.
Aaron Carley – Assistant Coach
Aaron Carley is entering his second year as a member of the Eagles’ coaching staff in 2008-09. His responsibilities include coaching the horizontal jumps and short sprints. Carley graduated with a degree in physical education from UW-Stevens Point in 2005. He was a member of the Pointer track and field team for four years and was the WIAC champion in the long jump in 2003 and was an NCAA III All-American in the triple jump in 2001. He is currently a graduate assistant in the sport administration graduate program at UW-La Crosse.
Carley coached two seasons at Wisconsin Dells High School where he worked with the boys and girls sprints and hurdles. While at the Dells, four school records were established; girls 100 meter hurdles, boy’s 100 meter dash, girls 4x400 relay, and girls long jump. These school record holders also competed well at the Wisconsin State track and field meet.
Marcus Walgrave – Assistant Coach
Marcus Walgrave is in his second year as a member of the Eagles’ coaching staff in 2008-09. He is coaching the sprints and hurdles. Walgrave was a member of the UW-L track and field program from 2004-3007. He was a two-time national champion (110 HH, 4x100 relay) and two-time runner-up (100 m, 55 HH). He was also an eight-time NCAA III All-American and a five-time team national champion. Walgrave is currently completing his undergraduate degree at UW-L in business marketing.
