La Crosse, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse assistant coach Frank Tierney will be inducted into the 2026 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Hall of Fame, the organization announced.  The 47th enshrinement into the WFCA Hall of Fame will take place at the Marriott West High School in Middleton, Wisconsin on April 18.
 
Tierney starts his 27th year with UWL's staff in 2025, working with wide receivers. 
 
A total of 31 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) selections at wide receiver have been earned under Tierney, including 14 first team choices. UWL has had seven All-WIAC Second Team and 10 All-WIAC Honorable Mention selections.
 
Scott Burnoski was voted the 2004 WIAC Player of the Year while Cole Spieker earned 2019 WIAC Offensive Player of the Year acc

olades. Burnoski and Spieker were both selected to the D3football.com All-America Second Team. Spieker is currently in his fourth season playing for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. 
 
UWL's Nick Holcomb was named to three-time first team All-America teams in 2017, earning American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press Little All-America and D3football.com honors.
 
The Eagles' Jake Simuncak was a 2021 Associated Press All-America Second Team and D3football.com All-America Fourth Team selection with Jack Studer earning 2023 Associated Press and D3football.com All-America Second Team accolades.
 
Burnoski (2004) and Holcomb (2017) were named finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Spieker (2019) and Studer (2024) were selected as semifinalists.
 
Burnoski in UWL's career leader in receptions (195) while Studer is the all-time leader in receiving yards (3,127) and touchdowns (35). The top-seven leaders in receptions in school history played under Tierney. The Eagles' top-three in receiving yards and six of the top-eight played for Tierney while the top-five players in receiving touchdowns played under Tierney's tutelage.

Tierney is a 1973 graduate of Manhattan College (N.Y.) where he led the team in receptions and touchdowns as a senior.  He also coached football in his hometown of Mahopac, New York.

Earning his master's degree from UWL in 1998, Tierney retired from the university's Academic Advising Center in 2016.
 
He served in the U.S. Army from 1975 to 2000 as a Combat Engineer and taught in UWL's ROTC Department.

Tierney is the 10th former UWL player or coach to be inducted into the WFCA Hall of Fame, joining Clark Van Galder (1983), Roland Christensen (1998), Roger Harring (1998), Bruce Bukowski (2007), Barry Schockmel (2007), Mike Anderson (2012), Mick Miyamoto (2016), Steve King (2021) and Larry Terry (2022).  
 
WFCA Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Bob Hyland - St. Mary's Springs
Dan Miller - Racine St. Catherine's, Racine Park
Guy Kopp - Cuba City, Prairie du Chien
Toby Golembiewski - Monroe, UW-Platteville
Scott Cramer - Verona, Whitefish Bay, Grafton
Cal Mathew - Milwaukee King, Milwaukee Washington
Pat Miles - Citation (Official)
Frank Tierney - (College) UW-La Crosse
Robin Rosemeyer - Gilman, Cornell, Chippewa Falls
Jim Hagen - Colby
Lee Purdy - Ashwaubenon, Mukwonago, UW-Superior, UW-River Falls, UW-Whitewater
 
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC COACHES ASSOC. HALL OF FAME
Ken Krause - Muskego
Bob Hyland - St. Mary's Springs
 
DAVE MCCLAIN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Don Kendzior – Luck
 
MARGE AND DICK RUNDLE POSITIVE INFLUENCE OF COACHING AWARD
Greg Roman - Milwaukee Reagan