Head Football Coach - Todd Hoffner

Todd Hoffner

Todd Hoffner enters his fifth season as the UW-Eau Claire head coach. The 2001 and 2002 teams set the school record for winning percentage over a two-year period, going 16-4 over that span (.800). The previous school mark was set by the 1983 and 1984 teams who went 16-5 (.762).

Under Hoffner's tutelage the Blugolds have equaled or increased their win total in each of the last four seasons. In 1999 the Blugolds went 2-8 followed by a 6-4 campaign which led to an 8-2 campaign in 2001 and a conference championship. The 2002 squad posted another 8-2 record highlighted by wins over national semifinalists St. John's (MN) and 2001 NCAA playoff participant Bethel College.

In the spring of 2002 Hoffner led squad of 42 Blugold players from the 2001 roster to Finland and Sweden for 10 days where they faced two European football outfits. The Blugolds defeated the Tyreso Royal Crowns, the Swedish National Champions and a 2002 Euro Bowl participant, by a score of 61-6. The second game saw the Blugolds hold off the Helsinki Roosters by a score of 27-22.

The 2001 Blugolds blossomed under Hoffner's play-calling, leading the conference in passing efficiency, second in passing offense, scoring offense and sacks against while finishing third in total first downs. Individually, quarterback Brian Rasmussen led the WIAC in passing efficiency and ranked second in total offense and passing yards per game. Running back Darrell Souhrada led all WIAC in rushing yards with 1,038 yards despite playing in just seven games in addition to placing second in total touchdowns with 10. Souhrada completed his Blugold career as the school's all-time leader in rushing yards in a career (4,373), season (1,588) and carries in a game (51) while becoming the conference record holder in career rushing yards (3,542), points (240), touchdowns (40) and carries in a game (51)

During his eight seasons at Stevens Point, Hoffner served the last two as defensive coordinator after four years as the offensive coordinator. In 1993 the Pointers were the WIAC's top offensive team in 1993, averaging 441 yards per game (197 rushing, 243 passing). Hoffner's last season in Stevens Point saw the Pointers become on of four teams to share the WIAC championship in 1998 along with the Blugolds, UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls.

Hoffner received his undergraduate degree in education from Valley City State in Valley City, North Dakota. There he earned all-conference recognition in both football as a cornerback and track as a 400-meter hurdler. He served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of North Dakota while he worked on his master's degree which he received in 1991.

Hoffner's only previous head football coaching position was at North Central High School in Rogers, North Dakota during the 1988-89 season. He was also head track coach and assistant boy's basketball coach at the school that year.

During his coaching career, he has worked with special teams, defensive backs, defensive linemen, wide receivers, quarterbacks and inside linebackers in addition to serving as the recruiting and strength coordinator.

He spent three summers with the Swedish American Football Federation. In 1998, the squad he helped coach won the Swedish American Football Federation Championship. Hoffner was also a volunteer coordinator in 1996 when the Jacksonville Jaguars had their summer training camp at UW-Stevens Point.

Hoffner married wife Melodee on July 21, 2001. His wife is a massage therapist at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire. This past spring the Hoffner's welcomed the birth of their first child, Kiaya Elizabeth (b. 2/15/03).

Updated 6/18/03