Navarro announces program restructures for upcoming seasons

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-Platteville Director of Athletics and Recreation and Assistant Chancellor for Sports Administration Dr. Kristina Navarro announced Tuesday (June 29) the restructure of the Pioneer soccer, track and field and cross country programs which will be effective for the upcoming 2021-22 seasons. The changes seek a targeted approach on recruitment to feed UW-Platteville's enrollment and retention strategy.    

Sam Koenig will take the helm of the Pioneer soccer programs in a restructured position as the Director of Soccer. Koenig will oversee both the men's and women's teams in addition to managing all scheduling and recruiting aspects. He will be joined by a staff of assistant coaches including Jesse Tinney, Eliza Denmeade, and Christian Alvarado.

Tinney, a former standout player at Mount Union College, joins the Pioneers with five years of elite level club soccer coaching experience. Denmeade a former three sport standout student-athlete at Erskine College (Soccer/Basketball/Lacrosse) recently finished her soccer playing career at the University of Indianapolis while earning a Master's in Exercise Science/Human Performance. Alvarado, a native of San Diego, California and former soccer student-athlete at Heidelberg University, continues with the Pioneers in an expanded role with the men's and women's programs. Koenig and his staff will work together to build a nationally competitive program on the men's and women's side. 

With a formal restructure of the Track and Field and Cross Country Programs—Chris Rotzenberg who has served as head coach of both the men and women's teams for nine seasons will continue to lead the Pioneers, now in an elevated role as the Director of Track and Field.  Assistant coaches Andres Young and Patti Laufenberg have been elevated to associate head coaches/recruiting coordinators focusing specifically on men's and women's track and field. Young, a former decathlete, has spent the last nine seasons coaching at his alma mater while Laufenberg, a former sprinter, enters her fifth year with the Pioneers. Together Young, Laufenberg and Rotzenberg will work to expand the identity of the men's and women's track and field programs in alignment with the department's mission of competitive excellence.

The final addition is a familiar face to Pioneer cross country and track and field. Marcia Taddy returns to her alma mater this fall and joins the ranks as an assistant cross country coach and recruiting coordinator to support the growth of the Pioneer cross country programs under the direction of Head Coach Tom Antczak. While competing for the Pioneers, Taddy was a 17x All-American, 8x National Champion and 2x National Track Athlete of the Year.  

Navarro states, "I am thrilled to continue to reshape our structure in accordance with our strategic plan and stated mission to provide a transformational student-athlete experience, enhance revenue for the institution via targeted recruiting and retention efforts, and enhance our profile of competitive excellence. I firmly believe a commitment to talent acquisition as well as professional development of staff inside the organization is one of the most important roles of the Director of Athletics. I look forward to onboarding our new coaching staff as well as continuing to invest in the personal and professional development of our Pioneer Family."