2024 WIAC Football Season Preview

Madison, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team is predicted to capture its third consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship, according to the league's head coaches and sports information directors in the conference's preseason poll announced Tuesday.  The Eagles, who finished 11-2 overall and 7-0 in the WIAC in 2023, return 82 letter winners. 

Matt Janus enters his fifth season as UWL's head coach in 2024 after leading the Eagles to three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division III Championships. The Eagles earned their first outright WIAC title since 2004 with their 7-0 mark a year ago. It was UWL's 35th overall league title in school history and second straight under Janus. UWL, ranked fourth on the final regular-season American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D3football.com Top-25 Polls, advanced to the 2023 NCAA Division III Championship Quarterfinals for the first time since 1996. The 11 wins last year were the most since finishing 11-2 in 1996. 

Janus was named the 2022 and 2023 WIAC Kwik Trip George Chryst Coach of the Year. He is 29-7 at UWL, including 3-3 in the NCAA Division III Championships.

He is joined by assistants Andrew McGlenn (offensive line/recruiting coordinator), Mike Anderson (associate head coach/tight ends), Michael McGuire (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Michael Zweifel (co-defensive coordinator/special teams coordinator/defensive backs), Mitch Collicott (co-defensive coordinator/defensive line), Frank Tierney (wide receivers), Steve King (defensive line), Jon Larson (kickers/punters), Jake White (linebackers), Gunnar Bagstad (running backs), Kelly Cline (defensive backs), Jerred Ambrose (wide receivers), Jack Kelly (assistant defensive backs), Bryce Walsh (assistant defensive line/equipment manager) and Jonathan Marinac (social media coordinator).

UW-La Crosse is ranked fifth on the 2024 preseason NCAA Division III Lindy's Sports Poll and sixth on D3football.com. 

UW-Whitewater is projected to finish second in the 2024 WIAC Preseason Poll.  The Warhawks are followed by UW-River Falls, UW-Platteville, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point.

Eight players return in 2024 with All-WIAC accolades, including three first team selections. Senior linebacker Tanner Newlin of Savage, Minn. (Prior Lake), senior wide receiver Jack Studer of Eyota, Minn. (Dover-Eyota) and junior placekicker Michael Stack of Oshkosh (West) were named to the 2023 All-WIAC First Team. Stack was selected the WIAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year. Studer and Stack both earned a pair of All-America honors last year. Studer was selected to the Associated Press (AP) and D3football.com All-America Second Teams while Stack earned AP and D3football.com All-America First Team accolades.  

Stack was named to the 2024 D3football.com Preseason All-America First Team while Studer was selected to the D3football.com Preseason All-America Second Team.

Senior offensive lineman Levi Liedke of Fond du Lac (H.S.) and junior defensive back Tate Pitcher of Somerset (H.S.) were voted to the 2023 All-WIAC Second Team while senior defensive back Aaron Schmitz of Mukwonago (H.S.), senior defensive lineman Nate Hietpas of Little Chute (H.S.) and junior tight end Marko Rajkovic of Franklin (H.S.) was named to last year's honorable mention team. 

Senior linebacker Ryan Daines of Westby (H.S.) earned 2022 All-WIAC Second Team accolades.

UWL opens its 2024 season Thursday, September 5 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) at 4 p.m. The Eagles' home opener is scheduled for Saturday, September 14 hosting NCAA Division II Northern Michigan University at 1 p.m. at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.  UW-La Crosse opens the WIAC season Saturday, October 5 hosting UW-Platteville at 1 p.m.  

For the complete 2024 UW-La Crosse schedule, click here.