University of Wisconsin, Whitewater Women's Track

Follow Coach Johnson on Instagram: hawkscoachmj Mike Johnson Interview Mike Johnson enters his 14th season as head men's track and field coach and his 12th year as head women's track and field coach at UW-Whitewater in 2022-23. During his tenure at the helm of the men's program, the Warhawks have never finished outside of the top five in the highly-competitive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and have finished among the nation's top 10 at 14 national meets, including at nine of the last 11 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. In 2015, UW-Whitewater equaled its best-ever finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, placing third while boasting two individual national champions. In 2016, the Warhawks captured four individual national titles at the NCAA Indoor Championships en route to a national runner-up finish, matching the program's highest ever finish at the national indoor meet (2004). In 2017, UW-Whitewater posted its highest finish at a national outdoor meet, placing second behind strong performances from thrower Theron Baumann and sprinter Parker Witt, who was named USTFCCCA Division III Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. On the women's side, the Warhawks equaled their best finish at an NCAA Indoor Championship meet, where they tied for fifth, and set a program record for the highest finish at an NCAA Outdoor Championship meet, where they placed third, in 2014. Johnson has led the women's program to top 30 finishes at nine NCAA Championships in his 11 years at the helm, including top 10 placements at four national meets. Johnson has mentored several individual NCAA All-Americans, and the men have won 71 individual WIAC titles and the women have captured 31 individual conference championships during Johnson's tenure.   In 2008, Johnson became an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. At UWSP, Johnson coached men’s and women’s sprints, hurdles and jumps as well as cross country. During his tenure, two school records were broken, nine individuals and one relay qualified for the NCAA meet and seven student-athletes garnered All-America accolades. The Pointer men's team finished second in both the WIAC indoor and outdoor championships. The women finished fourth in both. At the 2009 national championships, the Pointer men claimed eighth at the indoor meet and tied for 25th at the outdoor meet. Johnson graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's in occupational safety and health from UW-Whitewater. He earned his master's in health and human performance from UW-Whitewater in 2008. Johnson is a USATF Level 2 certified track and field coach in sprints and hurdles as well as a member of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). He is also a clinician for the hurdles at the UW-Whitewater Summer Track & Field Camp and the UW-Whitewater Learn-By-Doing Clinic.   Johnson and his wife, Rebekah, are the parents of two sons, Matthew and Zachary. Men's Track and Field                          Year WIAC Indoor NCAA Indoor WIAC Outdoor NCAA Outdoor 2010 4th 9th 3rd 56th 2011 3rd 14th 3rd 19th 2012 2nd 8th 3rd 7th 2013 4th 4th 5th 4th 2014 4th 6th 3rd 13th 2015 3rd T-9th 2nd 3rd 2016 T-3rd 2nd 2nd 5th 2017 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd 2018 2nd T-16th 2nd 10th 2019 4th T-15th 4th T-14th 2020 4th N/A N/A N/A 2021 N/A N/A 2nd T-55th 2022 4th T-10th 5th 16th Women's Track and Field                          Year WIAC Indoor NCAA Indoor WIAC Outdoor NCAA Outdoor 2012 4th 21st 5th T-28th 2013 3rd 21st 4th 7th 2014 3rd T5th 4th 3rd 2015 7th 6th 5th T-22nd 2016 7th T-70th 4th T-39th 2017 4th T-41st 4th 12th 2018 6th T-56th 5th T-32nd 2019 7th -- 7th T-66th 2020 5th N/A N/A N/A 2021 N/A N/A 7th -- 2022 7th T-46th 5th T-37th Note: The 2020 season was canceled prior to the NCAA Indoor Championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Updated in July 14, 2022)  

Jeff Miller has been coaching at UW-Whitewater since the fall of 1982. Miller is the head coach for both the men’s and women’s cross country teams as well as an assistant coach for the men’s track team.  Miller took over the men’s cross country team in 1982 and is the longest tenured cross country coach that UW-Whitewater has ever had. Since 1982, Miller has led the men’s team to two runner-up finishes and five third-place finishes in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Warhawk men won the program's first-ever regional team championship in 2021. On the men’s side, he has coached 17 All-Americans. He has guided runners to first team All-WIAC honors 31 times and other all-conference accolades 26 times (including 19 second team and seven honorable mention). Miller has also coached four WIAC Max Sparger Scholar Athletes. He has also had an abundance of individuals qualify for nationals and has taken the team to the NCAA Division III championship seven times, including fifth-place showings in 1999 and 2021. Miller has also had two individual WIAC champions (2004, 2021). He has been named WIAC Men's Coach of the Year three times during his illustrious career. Miller had his best season with the men's team in 2024, where Christian Patzka became the first Warhawk Cross Country National Champion and the team finished 4th place, the highest in school history. In addition, Gunner Schlender was named the NCAA Elite 90 Student-Athlete of the Year, recognized for having the highest GPA at the final championship site. Miller has coached the women’s cross country team since its inception in 1984. Since then he has led the team to one runner-up finish, one third place, and six fourth-place finishes in the WIAC. Miller has also had three All-American runners. He has guided runners to 12 first team all-conference honors and 32 second team or honorable mention All-WIAC accolades (including 25 second team and seven honorable mention). The women’s side of the WIAC offers the Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete award, which five UW-Whitewater runners have earned. Miller has led several individuals to qualify for nationals, and the team has gone four times, with its highest finish at fourth in 1991. Miller was also named WIAC Women's Coach of the Year in 1990. Before his coaching career began, Miller enjoyed a successful running career. His accomplishments include: Four-time NAIA All-District Cross Country Team 1976-79 Three-time NAIA National Cross Country Qualifier 1976-1978 Two-time NAIA Track National Qualifier 1979-80 In 1988, Miller took 72nd place in the Boston Marathon (19th among American finishers). He was also inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Racine Case High School, his alma mater, in 2016. Miller is currently involved in: NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III Track and Field Coaches Association Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Coordinator for the NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Poll Midwest Regional Rep for Women's Cross Country Miller graduated with a bachelor's from UW-La Crosse and earned a master's from UW-Whitewater in 1982.                                                                                                       Men Women Year Place in Conference Place in Conference 1982 7th -- 1983 6th -- 1984 6th 6th 1985 6th 6th 1986 6th 5th 1987 5th 5th 1988 5th 4th 1989 5th 4th 1990 T-4th 2nd 1991 5th 5th 1992 3rd 5th 1993 5th 5th 1994 5th 6th 1995 3rd 7th 1996 7th 6th 1997 3rd 5th 1998 3rd 7th 1999 2nd 4th 2000 T-3rd 4th 2001 6th 5th 2002 5th 6th 2003 4th 7th 2004 6th 4th 2005 4th 8th 2006 5th 5th 2007 4th 7th 2008 5th 7th 2009 4th 6th 2010 6th 4th 2011 6th 7th 2012 8th 6th 2013 7th 8th 2014 7th 6th 2015 7th 7th 2016 8th 8th 2017 5th 8th 2018 7th 8th 2019 5th 6th 2021 2nd 6th 2022 2nd 5th 2023 2nd 3rd 2024 2nd 4th                                                                                                                              Mailing Address: Intercollegiate Athletics Williams Center UW-Whitewater Whitewater, WI 53190   Office: 112H Williams Center Phone: (262) 472-5648 Fax: (262) 472-2791 Email: [email protected] (updated September 3rd, 2025)

Josh Ireland enters his 16th season as the Associate Head Track and Field Coach. Ireland has led the men and women's short sprint groups since 2016 and strength and conditioning coordinator since 2012 for the speed and power events. Coach Ireland by the Numbers: 3 individual national champions 2 individual national runners-up 22 individual All-Americans 7 All-American 4x100 Relay teams 1 National Athlete of the Year 21 top 25 all-time national performances 13 school records broken 2 WIAC Championship records 13 WIAC individual champions 73 individual WIAC honorees Coaching Certifications: USATF Level III/World Athletics Level V (Sprints/Hurdles) Certification USTFCCCA Sprint, Hurdle and Relay Event Specialist Certification USTFCCCA Speed Specialist Certification NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Certification USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Certification USAW National Coach Certification Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification FSMTB Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Certification International CPR Institute CPR/AED Certification ASSOCIATE HEAD TRACK AND FIELD COACH: JOSH IRELAND Education: Northern Illinois University Ph.D. Student: Kinesiology and Physical Education (Expected Graduation: 2027) University of Wisconsin-Whitewater M.S.E.: Human Performance (2013) University of Wisconsin-Whitewater B.S. Ed.: Human Performance (2009) Coaching History: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: Associate Head Track and Field Coach (2009-Present) University of Wisconsin-Madison: Volunteer Strength and Conditioning Coach (2016) Altis: Volunteer Sprints Coach (2015) University of Iowa: Volunteer Football Strength and Conditioning Coach (2013) Marquette University: Volunteer Strength and Conditioning Coach (2009) Competing Career: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 5-time All-WIAC honoree 3-time WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll Team Captain (2008) WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team (2007) Olympic Weightlifting 3-time US National Championships Qualifier 3-time American Open Championships Qualifier 3-time Wisconsin State Champion

Soderman's mentorship, Robert Starnes captured his first national championship in the long jump at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships. Soderman brings a diverse coaching experience to the athletes in the javelin throw. High schools here in the Midwest dont throw javelin, so we are starting with a clean slate on every athlete," Soderman said. "We use every tool available to play catch up with East and West coast schools who throw javelin in high school. This allows us to stay competitive on a national level.   In 2013, Soderman coached Jacky Bigger, the first female javelin thrower from UW-Whitewater to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where she set a school record. He has also mentored multiple place-winners during the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet on both the mens and womens sides, including multi-event athletes.   As a Warhawk, Soderman was the team's top javelin thrower for three straight years. He was a two-time second team all-conference honoree in the javelin, and was captain of the team during his junior and senior years. Soderman earned WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll accolades twice during his standout career. Following his collegiate throwing career, Soderman continues to compete in the javelin and has achieved success at the 2013 Drake Relays and at UCLA. He currently holds a personal best of 59.89 meters (196 feet, six inches).   Soderman graduated from UW-Whitewater in 2010 with a bachelor's in health, human performance and recreation and a minor in health promotion. In 2012, he earned his master's in exercise science from UW-Whitewater, writing his thesis on cardiovascular supplements and their effect on athletic performance. Soderman also has his National and State Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) license.   Soderman currently resides in Greenfield. He currently works for Paratech Ambulance Service on Milwaukees north side responding to 911 calls. He also works in private security for the 5280 Entertainment Group and is a veteran of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. UWW_XC_TF RJ Soderman enters his sixth year as an assistant coach for the UW-Whitewater men's and women's track and field teams in 2016-17. He specializes in the javelin throw, and enters his second year working with horizontal jumps. Under Soderman's mentorship, Robert Starnes captured his first national championship in the long jump at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships. Soderman brings a diverse coaching experience to the athletes in the javelin throw. High schools here in the Midwest dont throw javelin, so we are starting with a clean slate on every athlete," Soderman said. "We use every tool available to play catch up with East and West coast schools who throw javelin in high school. This allows us to stay competitive on a national level.   In 2013, Soderman coached Jacky Bigger, the first female javelin thrower from UW-Whitewater to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where she set a school record. He has also mentored multiple place-winners during the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet on both the mens and womens sides, including multi-event athletes.   As a Warhawk, Soderman was the team's top javelin thrower for three straight years. He was a two-time second team all-conference honoree in the javelin, and was captain of the team during his junior and senior years. Soderman earned WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll accolades twice during his standout career. Following his collegiate throwing career, Soderman continues to compete in the javelin and has achieved success at the 2013 Drake Relays and at UCLA. He currently holds a personal best of 59.89 meters (196 feet, six inches).   Soderman graduated from UW-Whitewater in 2010 with a bachelor's in health, human performance and recreation and a minor in health promotion. In 2012, he earned his master's in exercise science from UW-Whitewater, writing his thesis on cardiovascular supplements and their effect on athletic performance. Soderman also has his National and State Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) license.   Soderman currently resides in Greenfield. He currently works for Paratech Ambulance Service on Milwaukees north side responding to 911 calls. He also works in private security for the 5280 Entertainment Group and is a veteran of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

Cody Helgeson enters his sixth season on the UW-Whitewater Track & Field Coaching staff for the 2022-23 season as the high jump coach for the Warhawks. Helgeson helped Dylan Ferger and Quinn Halversen reach the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the high jump in 2019. Ferger, also an indoor national qualifier, earned the WIAC indoor championship in the event. In 2021, Josh Krystosek won the individual conference championship in the outdoor high jump and reached the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the event. Helgeson attended UW-Platteville, where he earned his bachelor's in Physical Education with an emphasis in Health Promotion. During his undergraduate career, Helgeson was a four-year year letter winner on the track and field team, competing as a high jumper and sprinter. He was an eight-time medalist at WIAC Championship events. Helgeson is a USA Track & Field Level 1 Certified Coach, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a Level 1 Group TRX Instructor, Functional Fitness Specialist and a Fitness Nutrition Coach. Helgeson's passion for track and field led him to coaching at UW-Stevens Point. In his four years as an assistant for the Pointers, he worked with one NCAA national champion, two NCAA All-Americans, six national qualifiers and eight WIAC medalists, including two WIAC champions and two conference runners-up. Since earning his degree, Helgeson has worked at many Fitness Centers and now owns SCC Fitness in Janesville. Since beginning his career, Helgeson has worked with many clients and athletes from all walks of life and a wide variety of fitness levels. He enjoys getting to know each client and athlete and learning about their life experiences and goals. Helgeson and his wife, Sara, live in Janesville. Updated July 14, 2022  

Follow Coach Wells on Twitter Follow Coach Wells on Instagram Nathan Wells enters his sixth season as a member of the UW-Whitewater track and field coaching staff in 2022-23. He works primarily with the pole vaulters. Wells mentored two All-Americans in the pole vault in 2019, including Zach Jasinski, who became UW-Whitewater's first pole vault national champion since 1984 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and first All-American in the event since 1992 with his runner-up finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Adam Schommer also earned a spot on the All-America podium at the outdoor meet with an eighth-place finish. Both qualified again for the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2020 before the meet was canceled. In 2021, Schommer and women's freshman Gracie Holland reached the NCAA Outdoor Championships, each placing among the top 15 in the nation. Holland continued her progress in 2022, sweeping the WIAC individual championships in the pole vault, posting school records both indoors and outdoors, and earning All-America honors at both the indoor and outdoor national meets. She placed fifth at the NCAA Indoor Championship and finished as national runner-up at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Wells has coached primarily high jump and pole vault at Stevens Point Area Senior High School, Kenosha Bradford high School and Oregon High School in Wisconsin and Caledonia High School in Minnesota.   Wells graduated from UW-Platteville, where he placed second in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and was a national qualifier in the decathlon in 2006. He was deployed as a member of the military to Iraq for two years during his college stint.   A native of Marshall, Wis., Wells works as an environmental engineer for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and resides in the Madison area. (Updated July 14, 2022)  

Hahns student-athletes have captured numerous conference and national honors. Seven individual national champions, four national runners-up, and seven third-place national finishers have been produced under Hahn's tutelage. Overall, male and female student-athletes have garnered 63 All-America honors since he joined the staff in 2001.   In 2004, Jeremy Wendt captured national titles in the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw.  Wendts performances established NCAA Division III records in both the weight throw and hammer and also earned him the title of Field Event Athlete of the Meet at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Championships.  Wendt also met the 2004 Olympic Trials qualifying standard in the hammer throw during the 2004 season. Hahn has helped Warhawk throwers record 19 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and set two conference records.   Hahn graduated Magna Cum Laude from UW-Platteville in 2002 with a degree in elementary and middle-level education. He was a four-year letterwinner and four-time All-American in the hammer throw and 35-pound weight throw during his career at UW-Platteville.   In addition to his coaching duties, Hahn works as an admissions representative for UW-Whitewater.  UWW_XC_TF Dave Hahn returns to UW-Whitewater in 2016-17 for his 17th year as an assistant coach with the men's and women's track and field program. He will specialize in throws.   While coaching the Warhawks, Hahns student-athletes have captured numerous conference and national honors. Seven individual national champions, four national runners-up, and seven third-place national finishers have been produced under Hahn's tutelage. Overall, male and female student-athletes have garnered 63 All-America honors since he joined the staff in 2001.   In 2004, Jeremy Wendt captured national titles in the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw.  Wendts performances established NCAA Division III records in both the weight throw and hammer and also earned him the title of Field Event Athlete of the Meet at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Championships.  Wendt also met the 2004 Olympic Trials qualifying standard in the hammer throw during the 2004 season. Hahn has helped Warhawk throwers record 19 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and set two conference records.   Hahn graduated Magna Cum Laude from UW-Platteville in 2002 with a degree in elementary and middle-level education. He was a four-year letterwinner and four-time All-American in the hammer throw and 35-pound weight throw during his career at UW-Platteville.   In addition to his coaching duties, Hahn works as an admissions representative for UW-Whitewater.