La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has announced Josh Buchholtz will serve as the new On-Site Coordinator for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Track & Field Championships. He replaces Larry Terry, who is retiring from UW-La Crosse January 11. The 2011 WIAA Championships are scheduled for June 3-4 at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The state meet has been held at UW-La Crosse since 1990.

“We place great value on our partnership with the WIAA and consider it a privilege to host Wisconsin's high school track and field championships,” said Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. “After a thorough review of our operation, I am excited about the opportunity that our team, led by Josh Buchholtz, has to make this one of the truly exceptional athletic events in the entire state.”

Buchholtz, who also serves as the director of indoor athletic facilities, begins his third season as the Eagles' head men's track & field coach in 2010-11. Under Buchholtz' leadership, UW-L captured the 2009 NCAA Division III Indoor Championship and placed third at both the Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2010. The Eagles have swept the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) indoor and outdoor championships in each of Buchholtz's first two seasons. He was named the 2009 WIAC Indoor and Outdoor Men's Track & Field Coach of the Year and the 2010 Outdoor honoree.

“I am very excited to move into a larger role with the WIAA State Track & Field Championship Meet,” said Buchholtz. “The chance to serve the La Crosse area, UW-L, our athletic department and the track & field community is a great honor. Seventeen years ago as a high school athlete at the state track meet, I would have never guessed I would end up with an opportunity like this.”

Buchholtz competed at the 1993, 1994 and 1995 WIAA State Track & Field Meet for Bloomer (Wis.) High School. He placed second in the pole vault in 1994 and was the Division 2 state champion as a senior in 1995.

“I would also like to thank Larry Terry and the whole Terry family for what they have done for high school track & field in Wisconsin,” added Buchholtz.

“For many years, Larry Terry performed admirably as our on-site coordinator for the WIAA State Track & Field Championships,” said Whitman. “We have all benefited from his work and commitment to one of our community's hallmark events. We see this as an opportunity to take advantage of the natural fit between the state track meet and our own track and field programs, as well as to capitalize on the management and leadership skills of one of our dynamic young coaches, Josh Buchholtz. As a coach, Josh has done a remarkable job directing our nationally recognized men's track and field program.”

A 2000 graduate from UW-L, Buchholtz was the Eagles' women's track & field assistant coach from 2000-02. He served as the vertical jumps coordinator for the WIAA Meet for several years and, since arriving as UW-L's head coach, has been involved with all aspects of the state meet. Buchholtz has served as a meet director of four high school meets annually, including the 52-team Northern Badger Track and Field Classic. Buchholtz was also Co-Meet Director of the 2003 WIAC Cross Country Championships and 2004 WIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Buchholtz was the men's track & field head coach at UW-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.

UW-L head women's basketball coach Lois Heeren will serve as the WIAA's Assistant On-Site Coordinator for the track meet.

“I have every confidence that Josh will provide exceptional leadership and vision as we continue to make the state track meet a memorable event for Wisconsin's high school student-athletes and track and field fans statewide,” added Whitman. “Josh, of course, cannot manage an event of this magnitude by himself. Many other people in the UW-L and La Crosse communities – more than I can recognize individually, in fact – play important roles in staging the state meet. On our athletics staff, however, we appreciate the efforts of Lois Heeren; Pat Healy; Kim Blum; Chris Schwarz; Katie Wagner; and Phil Whitesitt.

UW-L's 15 national crowns in men's track & field are the most in NCAA Division III history. A total of 39 individual All-America honors have been earned under Buchholtz. UW-L also had 17 student-athletes named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team the last two years.