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| UW-Eau Claire athletics photo by Chico La Barbera |
UW-Eau Claire athletic director Dan Schumacher announced Wednesday that football coach Wesley Beschorner has stepped down from his position after four years leading the Blugolds.
Beschorner has taken a position as associate head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Sioux Falls, an NCAA Division II program.
"I want to thank the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire — most importantly, our players and staff, and the surrounding community for everything that they've ever done for me and my family," Beschorner said. "I want to thank Dan Schumacher and Chancellor Schmidt for the wonderful opportunity. And lastly, I want to thank my beautiful wife and three great boys for their endless support the last few years."
Beschorner was hired as the 17th head football coach at UW-Eau Claire in February 2019. The Blugolds went 8-22 overall and 3-18 in the WIAC in three seasons with the Lohrville, Iowa, native. UW-Eau Claire did not play in the 2020-21 academic year during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I want to thank Coach Beschorner for his commitment to Blugold football, the mission of the university and to the student-athletes," Schumacher said. "He represented the university with class and we are especially thankful for his tireless work to bring great student-athletes to the football program. I wish great success to Coach Beschorner, his wife Kiki and the three boys in this next step in his coaching career."
Beschorner's opening season in 2019 featured a historic 21-19 upset of sixth-ranked St. Thomas, the program's first-ever win over the Tommies.
The Blugolds averaged 330.2 yards per game in the 2022 season and 376.8 yards per game in 2021. The Blugolds had their best yardage totals since 2015 when they racked up 3,775 yards in 2021 and 3,302 yards in 2022. Running back Austin Belot set a single-game Blugolds record with 365 rushing yards in a win over Luther to open the 2021 season.
Under Beschorner's guidance, UW-Eau Claire produced one D3football.com All-American: linebacker Sam Romanski, a second-team selection in 2019. The Blugolds had four first-team All-WIAC honorees in Beschorner's tenure.
UW-Eau Claire went 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the WIAC in 2022.
Michael McHugh will lead the UW-Eau Claire program as interim head coach. McHugh has served as the Blugolds' offensive line coach, run game coordinator and recruiting coordinator for seven years.
A national search for the program's next head coach will begin immediately.