WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Blue Devils (13-7, 6-5 WIAC) will head up north to attempt to break a two-game losing streak as they travel to UW-Superior (7-12, 2-9), Wednesday, Feb. 4. The Yellowjackets played the Blue Devils even for about a half until Stout wint on a 24-0 run to start the second half on their way to a 94-58 win Dec. 2. Last week: Stout lost twice on the road, falling 67-52 to UW-Platteville, Jan. 31 and 72-66 to UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 28. Player of the week: Lindsey Erichsen, Jr, Spring Valley, Minn. (Kingsland)

MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Blue Devils (11-8, 5-6 WIAC) will travel to UW-Superior (9-10, 4-7) Tuesday, Feb. 3 in their attempt to snap a two-game losing streak. Stout defeated the Yellowjackets, 70-60, Dec. 2. Last week: The Blue Devils lost at UW-Platteville, 68-67, Jan. 31 and 84-70 at UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 28. Player of the week: Terry Farmer, So, Kenosha, Wis. (St. Joseph)

HOCKEY
The Blue Devils (13-8-0, 4-6-0 NCHA, 2-4-0 WIAC) will host nationally ranked teams this weekend when they welcome in No. 8 Lake Forest College (15-4-2, 5-4-1 NCHA), Friday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and No. 2 St. Norbert (19-1-0, 9-1-0 NCHA), Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.. Last week: The Blue Devils shutout St. Scholastica, 6-0, Jan. 30, for Stout's fourth shutout of the year, but were shutout by UW-Superior, 8-0, the following night.. Player of the week: Nate Legler, Sr, Lakeville, Minn.

GYMNASTICS
The Blue Devils will host UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse, Friday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. Last week: Stout nipped UW-Whitewater, 167.925-166.325, Jan. 30. Gymnast of the week: Rhian Paulson, So, Stillwater, Minn..

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils will host the UW-Stout Pentangular, Friday, Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. and the Warren Bowlus Open, Saturday, Feb. 7 at noon. Last week: Stout placed second of nine teams at the UW-Stout Open, Jan. 31. Track athlete of the week: Attalia Young, So, Milwaukee, Wis. Field athlete of the week: Carrie Petersen, Fr, Luck, Wis.

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils will host the UW-Stout Pentangular, Friday, Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. and the Warren Bowlus Open, Saturday, Feb. 7 at noon. Last week: Stout placed second of nine teams at the UW-Stout Open, Jan. 31. Track athlete of the week: Dave Hanson, Sr, Sun Prairie, Wis . Field athlete of the week: Joe Cook, Fr, Star Prairie, Wis. (Osceola)

Women's Basketball

January 31, 2004

PLATTEVILLE - Once UW-Platteville took the lead early in the game, they never trailed and handed UW-Stout a 67-55 loss, Saturday, Jan. 31 at Platteville.

In a game that got ugly, Stout (13-7, 6-5) committed 33 turnovers to Platteville's 28. Platteville (12-7, 7-4) took a 25-21 score into halftime and kept Stout at arm's length the entire night. Stout cut the lead to one point, 38-37, with 11:34 remaining in the game, but never came that close again.

The Pioneers' Tiff Flesch led all scorers with 15 points. Michelle Hardyman came off the bench for 11 points and Angie Sisson chipped in 10 points.

Lindsey Erichsen (Jr, Spring Valley, Minn) was Stout's only player in double figures, finishing with 12 points.

Tied in conference play coming into the game, the teams flopped spots in the league standings with Platteville now fourth and Stout fifth. The loss is also Stout's second in a row after winning six straight.

Stout will be at UW-Superior, Wednesday, Feb. 4.

January 28, 2004

STEVENS POINT - UW-Stout pulled to within 63-61 with about four minutes remaining, but couldn't get all the way back as they fell to 8th ranked UW-Stevens Point, 72-66, Wednesday, Jan. 28.

The Pointers (16-2, 7-2) built up a 59-49 lead with 9:23 left in the game, but the Blue Devils (13-6, 6-4) went on a 12-4 run to cut the lead to 63-61 with 4:25 left. The Pointers made seven of the next eight free throws to pull away and put themselves back into contention for first place.

While Stout forced 22 Pointer turnovers, the Blue Devils could not overcome 30 of their own turnovers. Stout shot 66 percent from the free throw line (19-of-29), and 36 percent from the floor (22-of-62), including only 3-of-18 3-point shots.

The Pointers' Amanda Nechuta led all scores with 18 points. Andrea Kraemer added 15 points, Amy Scott 12 and Tara Schmitt 10.

Stout got a strong game from Laura Verdegan (Sr, Tony), who tossed in 17 points, had nine rebounds, four blocked shots and six steals. Sara Kahl (Sr, Menomonie) added 14 points and Lindsey Erichsen (Jr, Spring Valley, Minn) 13.

Men's Basketball

January 31, 2004

PLATTEVILLE - Trailing by four points, 66-62, with 16 seconds left in the game, UW-Stout pulled to within one point, but could not get enough as the Blue Devils fell, 68-67, at UW-Platteville, Saturday, Jan. 31.

Jeff Vandenberghe (Sr, Coon Rapids, Minn) hit a 3-pointer with 16.4 seconds remaining in the game, cutting the lead to 66-65. The Blue Devils (11-8, 5-6) fouled the Pioneers' Brad Reitzner, who drained both shots to give Platteville (13-7, 7-4) a 68-65 lead.

Stout's Nate Templer (Sr, Beaver Dam) tossed in a missed 3-point shot with 1.8 seconds remaining, but the Pioneers successfully inbounded the ball to run the clock out.

Stout overcame a 41-34 halftime deficit to take a lead midway through the second half. The Pioneers took the lead back at 7:13 on a free throw by Brandon Temperly and never trailed again.

The Pioneers were stellar from the line, connecting on 21-of-22 charity shots. The Blue Devils were not bad from the line, but didn't get as many opportunities as the Pioneers, hitting 13-of-17 shots.

Stout got taken to task rebounding, as Platteville pulled down 42 rebounds to Stout's 27. Platteville gave themselves several offensive opportunities, collecting 23 offensive boards.

Reitzner led all scorers with 28 points. Temperly finished 15 points and LeVon Crawford scored 10 points but pulled down 16 rebounds, 11 offensive, as many offensive boards as Stout.

The Blue Devils were led by Vandenberghe with 15 points. Templer and Terry Farmer (Fr, Kenosha) each scored 11 points.

Stout will be at UW-Superior, Tuesday, Feb. 3.

January 28, 2004

STEVENS POINT- UW-Stevens Point turned up their scoring machine in the second half and went on to down UW-Stout, 84-70, Wednesday, Jan. 28 in at Quandt Fieldhouse.

With Stout (11-7, 5-5) holding a 36-34 halftime lead, the Pointers (15-3, 6-3) missed their opening shot of the second half, but then hit their next 10 shots. The Blue Devils hung with the much bigger Pointers for about three minutes, then fell behind by five and eventually allowed a double-digit lead which ballooned to an 18 point lead, 64-46, with 10:23 minutes left in the game.

Stout was able to cut into the lead as they went on an 18-5 run over the next three minutes, capped off by a 3-pointer by Nate Templer (Sr, Beaver Dam) as Stout trailed by five points, 64-59, with 6:16 remaining. But the Pointers pulled away from there.

The Pointers' Nick Bennett scored a game-high 29 points, with 24 in the second half. Jason Kalsow added 20 points, Eric Maus 14 and Neal Krajnik 10.

The Blue Devils' Jacob Nonemacher (Fr, Kalispell, Mont) led Stout with 16 points. Templer finished with 14 points, Jeff Vandenberghe (Sr, Coon Rapids, Minn) had 11 and Terry Farmer (Fr, Kenosha) 10.

Men's Ice Hockey

January 31, 2004

SUPERIOR - Talk about taking your revenge. Eight days after UW-Stout blanked UW-Superior, 1-0, in Menomonie, the Yellowjackets exacted revenge in a big way, taking an 8-0 win in Superior, Saturday, Jan. 31.

The Yellowjackets (12-6-3, 5-3-2) scored four goals - two power play, one shorthanded and one even - in the first period to jump out to a huge lead.

The 'Jackets added two more goals in both the second and third periods. Superior worked the power play to their advantage all evening, scoring five power play goals on seven chances.

Superior chased Stout (13-8-0, 4-6-0) starter Tim Elde (So, Grafton, N.D.) after six goals, giving way to Jeff Dotson (Sr, Chanhassen, Minn) in the second period. Superior outshot Stout, 43-27. Elde recorded 15 saves, while Dotson stopped 20 shots.

Superior goalies Matt Bonnelly and Baron Bradley combined for the shutout, with Bonnelly getting 13 saves and Bradley 14.

Stout will host Lake Forest College, Friday, Feb. 6 and and will wrap up the home schedule when they host St. Norbert College, Saturday, Feb. 7.

January 30, 2004

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout goalie Jeff Dotson (Sr, Chanhassen, Minn) recorded his fourth shutout of the season and his second in seven days as the Blue Devils blanked St. Scholastica, 6-0, Friday, Jan. 30 at the Dunn County Ice Arena.

Dotson, who was named the NCHA player of the week for his performance last week where he shutout UW-Superior, 1-0, on Jan. 23, and picked up a 2-1 win at St. Scholastica the next night, stopped 29 shots on his way to the shutout this week.

Nate Legler (Sr, Lakeville, Minn) helped the offensive effort, assisting on the first two goals of the game in the first period, then scoring the two final goals of the game in the third period.

Jeff DeFrancesca (Fr, Mt. Prospect, Ill) scored his first collegiate goal only eight minutes into the game. Six minutes later, Derek Nichols (Sr, Victoria, Minn), with an assist from Legler and Joe Edin (Fr, New Richmond). Nichols assisted on Legler's first goal and Edin assisted on both goals.

The Blue Devils (13-7-0, 4-5-0) scored twice in the opening 131 seconds of the second period. Justin Huth (So, Shakopee, Minn) scored only 48 seconds into the period, with assists by John Schaffner (Jr, Janesville) and Josh Blair (So, Appleton).

Mitch Kellin (Sr, Cohasset, Minn) scored with 2:11 off the clock on the only power play goal of the contest. Mike Elm (So, Falcon Heights, Minn) assisted. The Saints record fell to 5-12-3, 0-7-1.

Stout outshot the Saints, 39-29. The Blue Devils will be at UW-Superior, Saturday, Jan. 31, then will host Lake Forest, Friday, Feb. 6 and St. Norbert, Saturday, Feb. 7.

January 27, 2004

MENOMONIE - In 120 minutes of hockey, UW-Stout's Jeff Dotson (Sr, Chanhassen, Minn/Chaska) allowed only one goal as he made 71 saves in facing 72 shots (98.6 save percentage) as the Blue Devils won two games over the weekend. Dotson was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) player of the week.

Dotson picked up his third shutout of the season - and the third of his career - in a 1-0 win over UW-Superior on January 23 as he stopped 48 shots.

Dotson allowed his only goal of the weekend in a 2-1 victory over St. Scholastica (Minn.) on January 24.

Women's Gymnastics

January 30, 2004

WHITEWATER - The UW-Stout gymnastics team slipped past UW-Whitewater, 167.925-166.325, as the Blue Devils' Rhian Paulson (So, Stillwater, Minn) won two events and finished second in a third event, Friday, Jan. 30 at Whitewater.

Paulson took top honors on the vault (9.15) and the balance beam (8.85) and was second on the floor exercise (9.35).

Shanna Kissinger (So, Sioux City, Iowa) snagged the top spot on the uneven bars (8.775) and tied for second in the all-around with teammate Lesley Rick (Fr, Birchwood, Minn) with a score of 33.825.

Freshman Erin Kampa (Fountain City) placed second on the balance beam (8.65). Senior Jennie Rosinsky (Green Bay) scored her best of the season on the floor exercise with a 9.025.

The win was Stout's first dual win of the season. The Blue Devils will host UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse, Friday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

UW-Stout 167.925, UW-Whitewater 166.325
Individual Results (First place, all Stout finishers)
Vault: 1. Rhian Paulson (Stout) 9.15; 3. Robyn Niederkorn 8.85; Lesley Rick 8.35; Shanna Kissinger 8.15; Jennie Rosinsky 8.15; Christine Sobczyk 7.85; exh: Helen Pansch 8.275;

Uneven bars: 1. Shanna Kissinger (Stout) 8.775; 4. Lesley Rick 8.10; Christine Sobczyk 7.25; Erin Kampa 7.15; Robyn Niederkorn 6.90;

Balance beam: 1. Rhian Paulson (Stout) 8.85; 2. Erin Kampa 8.65; 4. Lesley Rick 8.275; Caitlin Burch 8.125; Helen Pansch 8.10; Shanna Kissinger 7.825; exh: Robyn Niederkorn 6.01;

Floor exercise: 1. Megan Finnegan (WW) 9.40; 2. Rhian Paulson 9.35; Lesley Rick 9.10; Shanna Kissinger 9.075; Jennie Rosinsky 9.025; Liz Karkula 8.55; Helen Pansch 8.425; exh: Christine Sobczyk 7.70;

All-around: 1. Tracy Cummings (WW) 33.975; 2, tie. Shanna Kissinger, Lesley Rick 33.825.

January 27, 2004

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's Rhian Paulson (So, Stillwater, Minn) won the vault event at the UW-Eau Claire Ultimate Flight Invitational on January 24 with a score of 9.30. For her efforts she was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) gymnast of the week.

Paulson also finished eighth in the balance beam with a score of 9.00.

Women's Track & Field

January 31, 2004

MENOMONIE - Carrie Peterson (Fr, Luck), Ann Schachtner (Jr, Somerset) and Marci Schachtner (Jr, Deer Park) each took home first place finishes and Liana Frisch (Fr, Madelia Minn) and Marci Schachtner broke their own school records as UW-Stout finished second in their own UW-Stout Open, Saturday, Jan. 31.

Frisch placed second in the pole vault, clearing 10-feet, 0.75-inches , breaking the mark of 9-6.50 she set last week.

Marci Schachtner took first in the 20-lb weight throw with a toss of 53-5, breaking the record she set last week of 52-11.50. The mark is also an NCAA provisional qualifying distance.

Peterson was first in the high jump with a leap of 5-2.50 and Ann Schachtner was first in the shot put with a throw of 39-6.

Tracy Oostdyk (Sr, Shell Lake) was second in the 3000-meter run (10-minutes, 49.31-seconds). Camelle Meyer (So, Plainview, Minn) took a second in the high jump (5-0.25).

Stout will host the UW-Stout Pentangular, Friday, Feb. 6 and the Warren Bowlus Invitational, Saturday, Feb. 7.

UW-Stout Open Team scores
1. UW-Eau Claire 171.333; 2. UW-Stout 127.833; 3. UW-Whitewater 123.5; 4. Augsburg 69; 5. St. Mary's 54.33; 6. Hamline 29; 7, tie. St. Scholastica, St. Catherine's 18

Individual Results (First place, all Stout finishers)
55: 1. Alanna Carter (Augsburg) 7.34; 4. Lindsay Kjolsing 7.74; 8. Ashley Juleff 7.94; 15. Ramona Vann 8.26; 20. Kristen King 8.40; 21. Sara Manion 8.43; 25. Kristin Becker 8.57; 200: 1. Alanna Carter (Augsburg) 26.53; 4. Lindsay Kjolsing 27.78; 14. Ashley Juleff 29.13; 19. Kristen King 30.61; 22. Kristen Becker 31.31; 24. Attalia Young 31.63; 400: 1. Kallie Krueger (EC) 1:02.40; 800: 1. Megan Hakomaki (WW) 2:21.40; 8. Lindsay Enger 2:30.15; 11. Stephanie Nichols 2:33.49; 12. Alison Weis 2:34.21; 1500: 1. Angela Bergeson 4:46.17; 8. Laura Eyesnogle 5:31.90; 10. Mara Anderson 5:38.54; 12. Katie Heard 5:41.23; 15. Amanda Rau 5:55.03; 16. Jodi Welhoefer 5:56.71; 17. Heather Sassman 5:59.42; 3000: 1. Keidra Anderson (Hamline) 10:47.38; 2. Tracy Oostdyk 10:49.31; 12. Jennifer Hopps 12:13.50; 13. Carly Mann 12:40.17; 5000: 1. Katie Olds (WW) 19:16.97; 3. Krista Jahimiak 19:48.01; 5. Leah Karaliunas 20:29.62; 7. Christine Enger 20:44.95; 8. Terra Dahlheimer 21:02.63; 55-hurdles: 1. Jennifer Stafslien (EC) 8.68; 4. Attalia Young 10.14; 4x200-relay: 1. Whitewater 1:48.50; 3. Stout 1:58.23; 4x400-relay: 1. Augsburg 4:16.06; 4. Stout 4:33.08; Stout C 4:45.57;

High jump: 1. Carrie Peterson (Stout) 5-2.50; 2. Camelle Meyer 5-0.25; 8. Becky Monyhan 4-8.25; Pole vault: 1. Betsy Kamiski (EC) 10-6.75; 2. Liana Frisch 10-0.75*; 9. Katie Ploog 8-7; Long jump: 1. Jennifer Stafslien (EC) 17-2.75; 4. Ramona Vann 14-10; 6. Sam Strunk 13-1.75; Triple jump: 1. Jennifer Stafslien (EC) 36-8.50; 4. Sam Strunk 31-8.50; 6. Camelle Meyer 31-8.50; 7. Ramona Vann 31-0; Shot put: 1. Ann Schachtner (Stout) 39-6; 5. Marci Schachtner 36-6.25; 6. Bonnie Nutt 35-11.50; 14.Kim Randt 30-3.75; 20-lb wt throw: 1. Marci Schachtner (Stout) 53-5P*; 4. Ann Schachtner 42-11; 6. Kim Randt 36-7.75.

Men's Track & Field

January 31, 2004

MENOMONIE - Dave Hanson (Sr, Sun Prairie) hit a provisional qualifying time in winning the 400-meter dash as UW-Stout finished second at the UW-Stout Open, Saturday, Jan. 31.

Hanson clocked a time of 49.70-seconds, more than two seconds ahead of second place finisher Justin Marquardt of UW-Whitewater, who finished at 51.79. Hanson took a second place finish in the 55-meter hurdles (7.94).

Stout took the top five spots in the pole vault, with Joe Cook (Fr, Star Prairie) taking first on misses with a height of 14-feet, 2.50-inches, the same as Pat Doty (So, Richfield, Minn) and Andy Smith (So, Rice Lake). Nick Onesti (So, Wisconsin Rapids, Minn) and Jason Geiger (So, Mapleton, Minn) were fourth and fifth, respectively, with a height of 13-8.50. The 4x400-relay team took first (3:21.81).

Stout will host the UW-Stout Pentangular, Friday, Feb. 6 and the Warren Bowlus Invitational, Saturday, Feb. 7.

UW-Stout Open Team scores
1. UW-Whitewater 272; 2. UW-Stout 120; 3. UW-Eau Claire 110; 4. Augsburg 41; 5. Hamline 20; 6. North Central University 11; 7. Chizel Track Club 10; 8. St. Mary's 9

Individual Results (First place, all Stout finishers)
55: 1. Matthew Shannon (Augsburg) 6.54; 6. Joe Seep 6.68; 9. Marvin Suttles 6.75; 16. Dustin Berglin 6.90; 24. Brad Hoerth 7.06; 25. Tony Fitts 7.07; 200: 1. Mathew Shannon (Augsburg) 22.72; 13. Marvin Suttles 24.05; 14. Dustin Berglin 24.11; 25. Brad Hoerth 24.53; 33. Matt Boberg 25.50; 400: 1. Dave Hanson (Stout) 49.70p; 4. Derek Gozenbach 52.03; 7. Aaron Santama 52.44; 11. Matt Boberg 56.28; 800: 1. Josh Johnson (WW) 1:55.97; 5. Mark Kempen 2:01.02; 7. Scott Barthel 2:02.04; 9. John Maresh 2:06.72; 12 Matt Delaney 2:08.07; 13. Luke Kramer 2:09.07; 1500: 1. Tyler Fyock (WW) 4:03.82; 3. John Ullrich 4:14.04; 4. Brett Heimstead 4:14.69; 10. Dan Yudchitz 4:30.76; 14. Jon Gallo 5:23.45; 3000: 1. Adam Condit (EC) 8:50.47; 7. Ryan Chernik 9:19.22; 11. Jim Trudeau 9:31.52; 15. Todd Dexheimer 9:59.18; 16. Mike Heinen 10:18.82; 17. Chad McNutt 10:35.27; 5000: 1. Riley Kehoe (WW) 14:46.40; 3. Dave Huber 15:42.92; 6. Adam Burrack 17:20.52; 55-hurdles: 1. Mike Johnson (WW) 7.80; 2. Dave Hanson 7.94; 8. Derek Gozenbach 9.44; 4x200-relay: 1. Whitewater 1:31.20; 4x400-relay: 1. Stout 3:21.81; Stout B 3:38.21;

High jump: 1. Rodney Swanson (WW) 5-11.50; 4. Matt Delaney 5-7.75; Pole vault: 1. Joe Cook (Stout) 14-2.50; 2. Pat Doty 14-2.50; 3. Andy Smith 14-2.50; 4. Nick Onesti 13-8.50; 5. Jason Geiger 13-8.50; Long jump: 1. Tyrone Minor (Chizek) 23-7.50; 10. Tony Fitts 19-3.25; 18. Adam Tollefson 17-8; Triple jump: 1. Todd Gannon (WW) 44-4; 4. Ryan Carpenter 42-5.50; 5. Zak Germo 42-4.40; Shot put: 1. John Schuna (EC) 54-5.50; 3. Chad Kingsbury 46-4.75; 13.Dewey Josephson 39-5; 35-lb wt throw: 1. Jeremy Wendt (WW) 62-5.75.

January 31, 2004

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout went only as far as their own coaching staff to name their next head football coach.

Todd Strop, the team's defensive coordinator for the past six seasons, has been named to replace Ed Meierkort, who accepted the head coaching position at NCAA Division II University of South Dakota in December, Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen announced Thursday, Jan. 29 at a press conference. Strop is the 18th head football coach at UW-Stout.

As the defensive coordinator, Strop has been the main architect of the defense that has ranked at the top of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) three of the last four years and has been nationally ranked twice. The 2002 Blue Devil defense allowed an NCAA Division III low 500 rushing yards, and was ranked 13th in overall defense.

"The head coaching position is a wide encompassing job," the 35-year-old Strop said. "The challenge will be having my handprint on all aspects of the program, not just on defense."

Meierkort coached the Blue Devils for 11 years, finishing with a 55-55 overall record. But the Blue Devils were 29-11 over the last four years, including a conference title in 2000 and had no lower than a fourth place finish in the WIAC any of those seasons.

"Ed did a great job turning this program around," Strop said. "I look forward to turning a good program into a great program. We have many things in place here at Stout - the facilities, high academics, top recruiting classes - to challenge at the national level."

When Strop walked onto the Stout campus six years ago, he immediately fell in love with the Stout and Menomonie communities. Growing up in nearby Ladysmith, Strop was familiar with Stout and the WIAC.

"Growing up in northwest Wisconsin, these are the dream jobs," Strop said. After a 6-4 record last season, Strop believes Stout has the tools needed to continue to challenge for the top spot in the WIAC.

"The last two or three recruiting classes have been very good recruiting classes," Strop said. "When I look at the skills positions, we are as good as we have ever been.

"We need to look at a lot of the little things, and do the little things right."

Strop, who was the WIAC assistant coach of the year in 2000, worked specifically with the defensive backs and has been the team's recruiting coordinator the last five seasons. Over Strop's tenure, the Blue Devil defense has had five All-America picks and two players that went on to play in the NFL, Jeff Hazuga with the Minnesota Vikings and Tony Beckham, who is currently playing with the Tennessee Titans.

Strop played at Wisconsin from 1987-92 for present coach Barry Alvarez as a defensive back and special teams player. Strop has a special place in his heart for special teams, and wants to put more of an emphasis on that part of Stout's game.

"I wasn't that good at Wisconsin, and special teams is how I got on the field," Strop quipped. "Specials team are huge. The biggest thing about special teams is to make the players feel that is an important part of the game."

After receiving a degree in history from Wisconsin in 1992, Strop was the special teams coordinator at UW-Platteville from 1992-94. He was a graduate assistant at Ohio University from 1994-95, where he earned an advanced degree in physical education athletic administration, then became the head football coach and taught history at nearby Durand High School from 1995-98.

Strop took over a program that had been averaging fewer than two wins a season, and had the Panthers in the WIAA playoffs his final two seasons in Durand. Strop came to Stout from Durand.

Strop resides in Menomonie with his wife, Chris, and two children, a son, Tyler, and a daughter, Kylie.