Josh Buchholtz begins his ninth season as the UW-La Crosse head men’s track & field coach in 2016-17. He also serves as the associate facilities director for the intercollegiate athletics department.
UWL captured the 2015 and 2016 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III outdoor track & field titles under Buchholtz, the 13th and 14th outdoor championships in school history. For his efforts, Buchholtz was named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Outdoor Coach of the Year both seasons.
The Eagles placed third at the 2016 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships after finishing second in 2015.
Buchholtz has led UWL to six national titles, including three indoor (2009, 2013, 2014) and three outdoor (2013, 2015, 2016). The Eagles have won an NCAA III record 31 national titles (17 indoor; 14 outdoor).
Buchholtz was named the 2014 USTFCCCA National Indoor Men's National Coach of the Year and earned the 2014 USTFCCCA Indoor and Outdoor Men's Midwest Region Coach of the Year.
The Eagles swept the 2013 NCAA III indoor and outdoor crowns under Buchholtz, marking the 11th time in school history UWL earned the accomplishment. He was named the 2013 USTFCCCA National Indoor and Outdoor Men's National Coach of the Year. He was also selected the 2013 USTFCCCA Midwest Region Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year.
UWL has swept the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) indoor and outdoor championships in each of Buchholtz' first six seasons. He has been named the league's indoor coach of the year seven times (2009, 2011-16) and earned the outdoor honor on eight occasions (2009-16).
UWL placed second at the 2012 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships and tied for fifth at the indoor meet under Buchholtz' leadership. The Eagles were third at the 2011 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships and second at the outdoor meet while placing third at the 2010 NCAA Division III Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
Buchholtz led the Eagles to the NCAA Division III indoor championship in 2009 as they tied for first with UW-Oshkosh. He also led UWL to a fifth-place finish at the 2009 NCAA III Outdoor Championships.
A total of 221 individual All-America honors (113 indoor; 108 outdoor) have been earned under Buchholtz. Eighty-one student-athletes have been named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team in Buchholtz' first eight seasons.
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.
