Bio

Chris Rotzenberg was named head track & field coach in July 2012 after finishing his fifth year with the Pioneers as Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach.  During his tenure as head coach, the men’s program has finished in the top 20 at the NCAA National Meet five times with the highlight being the 4^th place finish at the 2016 Outdoor National Meet.  The women’s program has finished in the top 20 at the NCAA National Meet four times with the highest finish being 9^th during the indoor season of 2016.  Besides overseeing the entire program Coach Rotzenberg is responsible for coordinating the training needs of athletes ranging from 200 meters through 800 meters.  Highlights from his training group in 2017 include All-Americans in the men’s 4x400 during the indoor season.  This group of men included Wyatt Thompson who was an individual 400m All-American in 2016.  The women’s 4x400 qualified for the NCAA Outdoor National Championship in 2017.  This group included not just All-Americans Amber Williams (long and triple) and Megan Marotz (Pentathlon), but Devan Montgomery who was the 2017 Outdoor Conference Champion in the 800 meters.

As an assistant, Rotzenberg had four of his athletes participate at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, including Jessica Scott who won a national championship in the 800-meter run at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Prior to UW-Platteville, he served as a volunteer assistant at the University of Wisconsin (2006-07), where he worked with the women sprinters and 800 meter runners. He also worked at UW-La Crosse from 2004-2006, where he served as an assistant to the men’s cross country and track and field teams. During that time, the Eagles won the 2005 national title and were third in 2004. At UW-La Crosse, he assisted in coaching the sprinters and high jumpers, producing All-Americans in both event areas. This contributed to three team national championships in indoor and outdoor track and field. 

For seven years, Rotzenberg was the head boys track and field coach at nearby Cuba City (Wis.) High School and the girls head track coach for one season, after serving as a girls’ assistant coach for five years. During that time, the Cubans set 13 school records and qualified for the state championships in 16 different events. Rotzenberg also spearheaded the fundraising and construction for a new track at Cuba City, raising more than $180,000 to build a new facility.

Rotzenberg is a 1997 graduate of UW–Whitewater with a bachelor’s degree in business education. He is a 2006 graduate of UW–La Crosse with a master’s degree in exercise and sport science. He is also a USA Track and Field Level II certified coach and a USTFCCCA certified throws specialist.