La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team has announced the hiring of Tarek Yaeggi as its offensive coordinator.
 
Yaeggi joins UWL after being a member of UW-Stout's staff since 2020, serving as the Blue Devils' offensive coordinator since 2022. A total of 15 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Offensive honors have been selected under Yaeggi since 2022, including six first team selections. 

 
UW-Stout led the conference in red-zone offense (88.9%) last season while finishing third in points (33.6) and first downs (22.0) per game and fourth in passing yards per game (274.4). The Blue Devils averaged 33.4 points per game in 2023 and were third in the WIAC in passing yards per game (295.0).
 
In Yaeggi's first season as offensive coordinator in 2022, UW-Stout was second in the WIAC in total offensive yards per game (424.9), passing yards per game (256.8) and first downs per game (21.8). The Blue Devils were fourth in the conference in points per game (32.2).
 
Prior to arriving at UW-Stout, Yaeggi served as a graduate assistant coach at Temple University (Pa.) working with the tight ends in 2019 and was quarterbacks coach at UWL in 2018.
 
A native of Watertown, Wisconsin, Yaeggi was a two-year starter at quarterback at UWL from 2016-17. He earned All-WIAC Second Team honors in 2016, setting a single-season school record for completions (218). Yaeggi's 353 passing attempts in 2016 are tied for fourth in school history while his 2,724 passing yards ranks third. He finished the season with 2,896 total offensive yards, which sits in second-place in single-season school history. Yaeggi threw for 19 touchdowns in 2016.
 
"My wife and I are thrilled to return to UWL," said Yaeggi. "As former athletes here, UWL has always had a special place in our hearts. Returning home to UWL as the offensive coordinator has always been a dream of mine. The relationships I built back in the day with my teammates are still prevalent in my life today. I am excited to build new relationships here with the current staff and players." His wife, Kathryn (Vander Schaaf) Yaeggi, was a four-year member of UWL's softball team. 
 

Yaeggi holds UWL single-game school records for completions (39), attempts (66) and total offensive attempts (70) versus UW-Platteville on November 12, 2016. His 538 passing yards versus the Pioneers ranks second in school history.
 
He led the WIAC in passing yards per game (302.7) and total offensive yards per game (321.8) in 2016 while ranking second in completions (218), attempts (353) and yards (2,724).
 
In 2017, Yaeggi earned All-WIAC Honorable Mention accolades after finishing 121-of-195 (62.1%) with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games.
 
He ranks seventh in school history in career passing efficiency (143.07) and completions (339) while ranking eighth in attempts (548) and 10th in passing yards (4,272).
 
"We are so excited to have Coach Yaeggi back home at UWL," said UWL head coach Matt Janus.  "He was instrumental as a player in our football program and now to have him back as our offensive coordinator is very special. I know how much this university, city, and program mean to him.
 
"He has proven himself as one of the best offensive play callers at our level. We know all too well how well he utilizes personnel and the challenges his offense puts on defensive play callers."
 
Named the 2012 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year while attending Watertown High School, Yaeggi finished with 40 passing touchdowns and 3,264 yards in 2012 while leading the team to the state quarterfinals. He was a 2011 All-State First Team Selection, finishing 218-of-361 (60.3%) and leading the state with 296.7 passing yards per game.
 
He earned his bachelor's degree in biology from UWL in 2018 and his master's degree in higher education with a concentration in access and success from Temple University (Pa.) in 2019.

"Our keys to a successful offense are being fast, physical, disciplined, and playing with relentless juice," added Yaeggi. "Our offense will show these pillars every day in meetings, practice, and games. We will build an offense that shows player's physical and mental toughness and highlights how passionate these student-athletes are about the game of football. Our offense will be explosive and built to help this program attain 36 (conference titles) and four (national championships)." 
 
UWL finished 8-4 overall and 5-2 in the WIAC in 2024 under Janus. The Eagles made their 15th appearance, including fourth straight, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships.