La Crosse, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's cross country coach Don Fritsch announced today he will retire after 14 years at the helm of the Eagles' program, effective immediately.  Fritsch retires as one of the most successful coaches in UW-L history.  He was named UW-L's head coach in 1998 after serving six years as an assistant coach of both the cross country and track & field programs. 

During his head coaching tenure, the Eagles won two National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships (2001, 2005) and eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) titles (1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009).  He guided UW-L to top-seven national finishes in 10 of his 14 seasons as head coach.

Fritsch was named the 2001 NCAA Division III Cross Country Coach of the Year and earned WIAC Coach of the Year honors seven times.  He was inducted into the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004.

“It's difficult leaving something I've been a part of for so long and something that has given me my professional identity for over 30 years,” said Fritsch.  “During my long coaching career, I have never really been known as Don Fritsch but rather Coach Fritsch or just Coach. It will be difficult getting over not filling that role anymore.

“Working with kids for so many years has kept me young at heart and I will miss the relationship building and the day-to-day contact.  But even the best of times must end at some point and I am a strong believer that a man must understand his limitations.  We all know professional athletes who have stayed well past their time.  I don't want to be that guy who hangs on too long, but can't leave just because they are afraid to say goodbye and move on with their life.  It helps knowing that this is the right time and the program is being turned over to the right person.

“It has taken its toll on me physically and emotionally,” added Fritsch.  “Now is the time to rest and turn the program over to someone with the skills and energy to keep it at a high level.”

A 1980 graduate of UW-L, Fritsch ran on the cross country and track & field squads.  He earned All-WIAC and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District 14 honors.  He returned to UW-L and earned his master's degree in physical education-human performance in 1993.

Fritsch served as the Eagles' interim head men's track & field coach in 2007-08.  He led the team to the 2008 NCAA Division III indoor championship.  UW-L swept the WIAC indoor and outdoor titles under Fritsch and he was selected the 2008 WIAC Indoor Co-Coach of the Year.  He was a volunteer assistant men's track & field coach at UW-L for 20 years.

Before coaching at UW-L, Fritsch was the head coach of the boys and girls cross country programs at Stevens Point (Wis.) Pacelli High School from 1981-90, where he earned Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association (WISAA) Coach of the Year honors four times.  He also guided the boys and girls track & field programs at the school from 1985-91.

Fritsch coached the boys and girls programs to a combined 15 WISAA Division II cross country championships.  He also guided the girls' track & field team to two state titles.  During his tenure at Pacelli, Fritsch guided the development of 15 individual state champions.

In addition to his coaching duties at UW-L, Fritsch has been a member of the UW-L academic staff in the health and physical education department and in the education department at Viterbo University (Wis.).  He recently retired from teaching health and physical education at Longfellow Middle School in La Crosse, a position he held since 1994.

“For the last 18 years I have balanced being a full-time teacher in the La Crosse public schools, and being the men's cross country coach and volunteer assistant track coach for the distance runners at one of the premier NCAA Division III programs,” said Fritsch.

“I have often told my athletes the program is more important and bigger than any single one of us,” added Fritsch.  “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.  It is time for me now to be a man of principle and integrity and live by those words.  I can leave knowing that I did right with my time in this program.  I fought the good fight, and finished the race.”

“We are so grateful to Don for the many years he has devoted to our men's cross country and track & field programs,” said UW-L Director of Athletics Josh Whitman.  “His record speaks for itself, and his commitment to his team, and to his student-athletes, has been unparalleled. 

“Don has not only continued the great tradition of UW-L cross country, but he has enhanced it.  The program is a national contender year in and year out, thanks in large part to Don's leadership and vision.  More importantly, he has influenced positively the lives of hundreds of student-athletes who have come through his program.  All of us who have been involved with our men's cross country program owe Don a debt of gratitude for his many years of work and sacrifice on behalf of his teams.”