Monday, Aug. 4, 2025

University of Denver Seeks Head Nordic Ski Coach

Pioneers own the most NCAA national championships of any skiing program

DENVER — The University of Denver athletic department is hiring a head Nordic skiing coach to help lead one of the most decorated programs in collegiate sports.

The head coach will oversee all aspects of the varsity Nordic program, including coaching, recruiting, event scheduling, staffing, fundraising, marketing, budget management and compliance with NCAA and conference regulations. The coach will work closely with Joonas Räsänen, the Otto Tschudi Head Alpine Skiing Coach, to guide the DU Ski Team.

Denver leads all NCAA programs with 24 team national championships and has produced 98 individual national champions. Since its founding in 1946, the team has earned 396 All-American honors across 157 athletes and sent 40 skiers to the Olympics—including Finland’s Jasmi Joensuu, who competed in cross-country skiing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.

The Pioneers have finished in the top five at each of the past 12 NCAA Championships and reached the team podium nine times during that span.

“Denver has a long and successful history in both cross country and alpine skiing,” said Josh Berlo, vice chancellor for athletics and Ritchie Center operations. “Not only does it own the most NCAA titles in the country, but the team also ranks among national leaders in individual champions and All-Americans. It has built a reputation as one of the best collegiate programs in the country and consistently upholds that expectation.

This program takes pride in developing top athletes who graduate and go on to excel both on snow and in their professional careers. We aim to hire a Nordic head coach who will continue to uphold the values, tradition and standards of Denver skiing.”

Candidates can apply at this link

Recent Success in the RMISA

The Pioneers compete in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA), alongside programs such as Utah, Colorado, Montana State, Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks.

DU won the 2025 RMISA Nordic regular-season title. The men’s Nordic team has claimed the individual conference title in three of the last four seasons. The women’s team had one of its strongest years in 2025, combining for 31 top-10 finishes in 14 races. That included 11 top-five results, three podiums, an individual victory and a first-team All-American honor in the 20-kilometer freestyle at the NCAA Championships.

Coaching Transition

Former head Nordic coach Rogan Brown resigned July 2 for personal and family reasons. He remains with the program in an interim role until a new head coach is hired.

“I’m ready for a new chapter that allows me to realign personally and professionally,” Brown said. “I’m immensely proud of what we’ve built at DU Skiing on top of a storied legacy, and I’m confident the team is positioned for continued success.”

Program and Facilities Overview

Denver skiing is a co-ed program with six men and six women Nordic athletes for the 2025–26 season. The collegiate season begins each January at the U.S. Cross Country National Championships, held this year in Lake Placid, New York, and concludes with the NCAA Championships hosted by Montana State in Bozeman, March 11–14.

In addition to the college circuit, DU athletes often compete in U.S. SuperTour and other FIS events across the Western U.S. and Canada.

The University of Denver sits just south of downtown and within two hours of multiple Rocky Mountain Nordic centers. The campus is less than a mile from Washington Park, a popular training loop for roller skiing intervals.

About Pioneer Athletics

The University of Denver has a proud athletic tradition that complements its academic mission. DU has won 35 national championships and competes in 18 NCAA Division I sports. Pioneers athletes pursue championships, excel in the classroom, and represent their university and conferences with distinction.

About the University of Denver

Located at the intersection of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, the University of Denver embodies a spirit of exploration and discovery. DU is a private institution rooted in research, collaboration, and community engagement. With nationally recognized academic programs and a deep commitment to inclusion, DU empowers students through the 4D Experience to lead, innovate and make a global impact.

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