Michael McGuire starts his fifth season as UWL's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2024. The Eagles led the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in first downs (302), time of possession (34:16), red-zone offense (86.2%) and fourth-down conversions (47.0%) in 2023 while finishing second in points (39.3) and offensive yards (474.2) per game. UWL was also third in rushing offense (190.9) and fourth in first-down conversions (47.0%).
Six players earned All-WIAC Offensive honors in 2023, including Ryan Bartol, Mike Bertoia, Keyser Helterbrand and Jack Studer to the first team. Helterbrand was named the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year. Noah Coleman earned All-WIAC Second Team accolades and Marko Rajkovic was selected honorable mention. Bertoia was named to the 2023 Associated Press (AP), D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America First Team. Helterbrand was named the D3football.com All-Region Offensive Player of the Year and to the D3football.com All-America Second Team. He was also a Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist. Studer earned AP and D3football.com All-America Second Team accolades last season.
The Eagles led the WIAC in rushing offense (211.1), offensive efficiency (167.1), third-down conversions (54.3%) and time of possession (32:56) while being tied for first in sacks allowed (12) in 2022 under McGuiree. UWL was second in the league in scoring (34.4) and red-zone offense (80.4%) and third in total offense (418.3).
Four players were voted to the 2022 All-WIAC First Team Offense, including Bertoia, Ben Hildebrand, Joey Stutzman and Helterbrand. Stutzman was named the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year.
McGuire was named the 2022 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year.
UWL led the conference in third-down conversions (57.1%) and time of possession (32:26) in 2021 while finishing third in scoring offense (36.0), first downs per game (21.8), fourth-down conversions (57.1%) and sacks allowed (11). UWL finished fifth in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III in third-down conversions, tied for 15th in total first downs (262) and 22nd in sacks allowed per game (0.92).
Six players were named to the All-WIAC Offense in 2021, including three on the first team in Bertoia, Stutzman and Jake Simuncak. Will Josten, Alex Bongers and Brad Tobin were selected to the 2021 All-WIAC Honorable Mention Offense. Stutzman (1,342 rushing) and Simuncak (1,071 receiving) both finished with over 1,000 yards on the season, one of five schools in NCAA Division III to accomplish the feat. Wide receiver Cameron Sorenson led the WIAC in receiving touchdowns (14).
Simuncak was voted to the 2021 AP All-America Second Team and to the D3football.com All-America Fourth Team.
Prior to coming to UWL, McGuire spent two seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Dickinson State University (N.D.). The Blue Hawks won two North Star Conference championships in both of McGuire's seasons an assistant coach while appearing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Playoffs. Dickinson State (N.D.) went 17-6 in McGuire's two seasons, finishing eighth in the final 2018 NAIA Poll.
Under McGuire's tutelage, Dickinson State (N.D.) finished in the top-20 in six offensive categories in 2018, including second in fourth-down conversions (66.7%), third in sacks against (1.0 per game), 11th in third-down conversions (46.1%), 13th in passing efficiency (148.2), 18th in total offense per game (428.2) and 19th in scoring offense per game (35.3). In 2019, the Blue Hawks also placed in the top-20 in six different statistics. Dickinson State (N.D.) finished eighth nationally in third-down conversions (44.7%) and passing efficiency (156.3), 11th in first downs per game (21.9), 12th in passing offense per game (276.7), 17th in total offense per game (423.9) and 19th in scoring offense per game (35.2).
He recruited Northeastern South Dakota as well as Wyoming and Utah while at Dickinson State (N.D.).
Prior to arriving at Dickinson State (N.D.), McGuire was the head football coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Big Horn (Wyo.) High School from 2012-17. He led the Rams to four (2013-14, 2016-17) Wyoming 2A State Championship game appearances, winning two titles (2013, 2016). McGuire was named the Wyoming Coaches Association 2A Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016. He also served as head girls' basketball coach at Big Horn from 2015-18, compiling a 54-21 overall record. Big Horn won the 2017 2A State title and captured two conference crowns.
He was the defensive line and tight ends coach at Sheridan (Wyo.) High School in 2010-11, finishing 20-4 overall and winning the 2011 Wyoming 4A State title. McGuire served as head football coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Riverside High School (Basin, Wyo.) from 2006-09. The Rebels were 28-13 under McGuire, winning the 2007 2A state title and appearing in the 2006 championship game. He was named the 2007 Wyoming Coaches Association 2A Coach of the Year.
McGuire served as a graduate assistant coach at Fort Hays State University (Kan.) in 2004-05 working with the tight ends and as an assistant with the offensive line. He earned his bachelor's degree in exercise sport science from the University of Wyoming in 2003 and his master's in health and human performance from Fort Hays State (Kan.) in 2006. McGuire was a two-year starter at quarterback at Greybull (Wyo.) High School, serving as team captain. He earned first team all-conference honors in football and basketball his senior season.
