Josh Buchholtz begins his 17th season as the UW-La Crosse head men’s track & field coach in 2024-25.
UWL swept the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III indoor and outdoor titles under Buchholtz, who was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year. The Eagles swept the indoor and outdoor national titles for the 13th time (1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2017, 2024) in school history, including the third time with Buchholtz.
He was selected the 2023 USTFCCCA National Indoor Coach of the Year after leading UWL to a national crown. The Eagles placed second at the 2023 outdoor championships.
The Eagles swept the 2017 NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor titles under Buchholtz. For his efforts, Buchholtz was named the 2017 USTFCCCA National Outdoor Coach of the Year.
Buchholtz has led UWL to 11 national titles, including six indoor (2009, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2023, 2024) and five outdoor (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024). The Eagles have won an NCAA III record 36 national titles (20 indoor; 16 outdoor).
Josh Buchholtz has led UWL to 11 NCAA III titles.
He has been voted the USTFCCCA Outdoor Men's National Coach of the Year five times (2013, 2015-17, 2024) and USTFCCCA Indoor Men's National Coach the Year in four seasons (2013-14, 2023-24).
Buchholtz has been selected the USTFCCCA Outdoor Region Coach of the Year eight times (2012-14, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023-24) and USTFCCCA Indoor Region Coach of the Year on five occasions (2012-14, 2019, 2024).
UWL has placed in the top-five nationally in 28 championships under Buchholtz, including five second-place outdoor finishes (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2023). The Eagles finished fourth at the 2021 NCAA III Outdoor Championships and fifth in 2009 and 2021. At the indoor championships, UWL finished second in 2015 and 2019; third in 2010, 2011 and 2016 and fifth in 2012 and 2018.
The 2020 indoor and outdoor and 2021 indoor national championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic threat.
The Eagles have captured 14 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) indoor championships under Buchholtz. UWL has also won 14 outdoor league titles. He has been named the league's indoor coach of the year eight times (2009, 2011-16, 2018) and earned the outdoor honor on 10 occasions (2009-18). UWL earned the 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 WIAC Indoor and Outdoor Coaching Staff of the Year Awards.
A total of 383 individual All-America honors (192 indoor; 191 outdoor) have been earned under Buchholtz. Ninety-nine student-athletes have been named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
Buchholtz served as men’s track & field head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stout from 2002-08. He added the women’s track & field head coaching position in 2007. Buchholtz, who also served as a physical education instructor at UW-Stout, was the Blue Devils’ men’s cross country head coach from 2002-07.
A 2000 graduate from UWL, Buchholtz was the Eagles’ women’s track & field assistant coach from 2000-02. He has worked as a member of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Track & Field Meet Administration staff, taking over as the on-site coordinator in 2011.
He served as a meet director of four high school meets annually while at UW-Stout, including the 52-team Northern Badger Track and Field Classic. Buchholtz was Co-Meet Director of the 2003 WIAC Cross Country Championships and 2004 WIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
He was the equipment manager of the physical education department at UW-Stout and handled the Blue Devils’ track & field/cross country laundry and equipment.
Buchholtz is a member of the USTFCCCA.
