Emendorfer named Interim Athletic Director

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Chancellor Dennis J. Shields announced Thursday changes in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's leadership team, which included the appointment of head football coach Mike Emendorfer as Interim Athletic Director.

Emendorfer's appointment follows the resignation of Shannon James Ealy.  Emendorfer served as  interim director from 2016-17 after Mark Molesworth's retirement. He has led the Pioneer football program for over 20 years, and his successes recently landed him induction into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Coach Emendorfer is preparing for his 21^st season at the helm of the Pioneer football program after being named head coach in 1999.  Becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history during the 2016 season, his teams have become synonymous with assaulting the record books, as the Pioneers have broken more than 40 school and 10 WIAC records. Emendorfer's Pioneers have been voted in the top 15 four of the last six years in preseason polls with two of those teams earning NCAA playoff berths. 

"We are going to focus on the student-athletes and staff first," Emendorfer said. "I am committed to providing strong leadership to the department and continuing to move the department forward in a positive direction as interim."

Having over 30 years' experience in collegiate athletics at the NCAA Division III level, Emendorfer will serve in the dual role as head coach and interim director until the next director's appointment.