UWRF’s Ford retires after 30 years

UW-River Falls head coach Patti Ford is retiring after 30 seasons, which was the longest tenure in WIAC history.

Trivia tidbit: Illinois Wesleyan’s Kim Nelson-Brown now takes over as the dean of Region VIII/IX head coaches. Nelson-Brown (1996), St. Scholastica’s Dana Moore (1997) and Wartburg’s Jennifer Walker (1998) are the only Region VIII/IX coaches to remain at the helm since the 1990s.

-Ricky Nelson

Wartburg’s Bildstein, Foster named Academic All-America First Team

Wartburg middle Kylie Bildstein and libero Katie Foster were both selected Academic First Team All-Americans by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Johns Hopkins setter Natalie Aston was tabbed Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for Division III volleyball.

Region VIII/IX players also earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors were Gustavus Adolphus outside Kate Holtan (Second Team) and Wisconsin-Whitewater middle Morgan Wardall (Third Team). All 22 student-athletes on the 2021-22 Division III Women’s Volleyball Academic All-American Team were either seniors or graduate students.

-Ricky Nelson

Holzhueter moves over a chair at Martin Luther

Emma Holzhueter was announced as the new head coach at Martin Luther today. Holzhueter, who takes over for 13-year coach Rebecca Cox, was an assistant under Cox at MLC the past five seasons.

Head coach announcements this offseason are also expected at Region VIII/IX institutions Carleton, Chicago, Concordia Wisconsin, Defiance, Elmhurst, Eureka, Rockford and Saint Mary’s (Minn.).

-Ricky Nelson