Coach Tom Antczak has been the UW-Platteville head cross country coach and assistant distance-middle distance track coach at UW-Platteville for the last 24 years. In that time, UW-Platteville has become a nationally prominent distance program.
In the last 10 years alone, the men's cross country team has qualified for the NCAA III national meet six times, with a high finish of fourth in 2010. During that time, Pioneer men's cross country student-athletes have garnered 10 All-America honors, the most of any WIAC or Midwest (Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri) Region school. Tyler Sigl, who finished 14th in 2004, 4th in 2005, 10th in 2006 and 1st in 2007 leads that list of outstanding athletes.
Two Pioneer women earned multiple cross country All-America honors. Jackie Mulrooney and Marcia Taddy earned All-American honors twice in their careers. Jessica Scott earned her first cross country All-American honor during the 2009 season finishing 12th. The 2007 season also saw the Women’s Cross Country Team qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history.
In track, Antczak’s athletes have achieved 100 All-America honors, including 18 national champions: 2003 outdoor men’s 10K; 2004 indoor men’s 1,500 meters and distance medley relay; 2005 indoor men’s 800 meters and mile; 2005 women's outdoor 800 meters; 2006 women’s indoor mile; 2007 women’s indoor 800, mile, DMR; the outdoor men’s 10K and women’s 1,500 meters; 2008 men’s DMR and 10K; and the women’s 1,500 meters and 800 meters in 2008.
In addition, his athletes have established more than 140 school records during his tenure. He also coached one of his athletes, Keri Wells, to the 2000 USA Olympic Marathon Trials and another, Ryan Kleimenhagen, to fourth place in the 1,500 meters at the 2005 USATF Indoor National Championships. Former athletes Tyler Sigl and Corey Stelljes have also qualified for the USA Olympic Marathon Trials.
Antczak is a USATF Level II Certified Coach in middle distance/distance events. He is also an exercise physiologist, certified by the ACSM. During his competitive career, Coach Antczak reached near world-class status, qualifying for three Olympic Marathon Trials, winning two Marathon National Championships and placing fifth at the New York City Marathon and 12th at the Boston Marathon.
