With the 2025-26 season, Kyle Steiner will begin his 12th season as the head coach of the men's and women's track and field team and 15th with the Blue Devils.
UW-STOUT (2010-Present)
Steiner has coached 10 National Champions, 98 All-Americans, 209 National qualifiers, 143 All-Region athletes, and 71 WIAC Champions,
In the classroom, Steiner has coached 40 CSC Academic All-District selections, 10 CSC Academic All-Americans, 157 USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes.
2025: The Indoor season saw Brekkyn Lammert etch her name into the UW-Stout record books with a time of 4:56.73 in the women's mile, surpassing the previous school record of 4:57.75 set by Katie Jacobson in 1999. Stout had seven all-WIAC selections. Hannah Zastrow won the 60-meter hurdles. Stout sent seven to the indoor national championships. Hannah Zastrow (60H, High Jump), Aubree Koenings (Weight Throw), Brekkyn Lammert (mile), Leah Zastrow (pole vault), Sam Knox (Pole Vault), Lawson Davis (high jump), Karter Rashke (shot put). UW-Stout had a strong showing at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships, with Leah Zastrow, Hannah Zastrow, and Karter Rashke earning First-Team All-American honors. Leah Zastrow claimed national runner-up in the pole vault, clearing a season-best 3.97 meters (13' 0.25"). Hannah Zastrow earned All-American honors in two events. She won her 60-meter hurdles preliminary heat with a season-best 8.55 seconds, then improved to 8.51 seconds in the finals to place third overall. She also recorded a personal best in the high jump, clearing 1.68 meters (5' 6") to finish sixth.Karter Rashke secured All-American recognition in the shot put, throwing a personal-best 18.6 meters (59' 3") on his second attempt to place among the nation's best. In addition, two more Blue Devils earned Second-Team All-American honors: Aubree Koenings finished 11th in the women's weight throw with a mark of 17.40 meters (57' 1") Sam Knox placed 14th in the men's pole vault, clearing 4.75 meters (15' 7").
The UW-Stout men's and women's track and field teams delivered standout performances at the WIAC Outdoor Championships. The Women's team placed third with 116 points and 24 podium finishes. The men's team was sixth with 40 points and 14 podium finishes. Hannah Zastrow was the WIAC Champion in both the 100meter hurdles and the high jump. Lilly Roberts won the 400m hurdles and Brekkyn Lammert set the school record in the 3000meter steeple chase. Hannah Zastrow received the Judy Kruckman Award for top scholar-athlete.
Stout sent 8 to the Outdoor national championships: Thomas Casey (110-meter hurdles), Sam Knox (pole vault), Jack Roeber (long jump, triple jump), Karter Rashke (shot put), Hannah Zastrow (100-meter hurdles, high jump), Kaylie Raths (100-meter hurdles), Leah Zastrow (pole vault), Raegan Sorensen (javelin).Leah Zastrow, earn All-American honors, placed third in the women's outdoor pole vault that was held indoors due to weather. She put up a personal best and second-best vault in school history of 4.00 meters (13' 1 1.5").Hannah Zastrow was the national runner-up in the high jump with a personal best1.71 meters. She was also an All-American in the 100 Hurdles, her 11
th of her career. Jack Roeber placed eighth in the men's triple jump with a mark of 14. 89 meters (48' 10.25") to earn his first All-American honors.
2024: Hannah Zastrow (60M-Hurdles), McKayla Felton (3000-meters), Leah Zastrow (Pole Vault), Jenna Driscoll (Long Jump) were all WIAC champions. Felton and Hannah Zastrow both set school records in their respective events. Hannah Zastrow and Connor Walechka both were national runner-ups with second place finishes at the 2024 NCAA Indoor National Championships to earn first-team All-American honors. The Blue Devils saw more success in the outdoor track season, setting multiple school records and numerous top-10 performances. Jack Roeber set school record in both the long and triple jumps. Mckayla Felton set a school record in the 3000 Steeplechase. Hannah Zastrow set a school record in the 100M hurdles. Arely Jamie Luevano (10,000-Meters), Hannah Zastrow (100M Hurdles) won WIAC Individual Titles. Stout had 18 All-Region honorees with Brandon Dick (Decathlon), Jack Roeber (Long, Jump, Triple Jump), Sam Knox (Pole Vault), Braden Krystosek (Pole Vault), Matt Thomas (10,000-meters), Jenna Driscoll, Lilly Gamache, Esme Irel, and Makayla Durango (4x100-meter relay), Jenna Driscoll (long jump), Mckayla Felton (3000 Steeplechase, 5,000-meters), Lilly Roberts (400M Hurdles), Hannah Zastrow (100M Hurdles, high jump), Leah Zastrow (pole vault) all earning All-Region recognition. Stout sent eight to the National Championship meet with Connor Walechka (Hammer Throw), Hannah Zastrow (100M Hurdles, High Jump) Lawson Davis (High Jump), Brandon Dick (Decathlon), Nate Karau (Discus), Jack Roeber (Long Jump, Triple Jump), Leah Zastrow (Pole Vault) all earning All-American Status.
2023: The Blue Devils had seven selected to the indoor track North Region team. The members of the Blue Devil Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team Lance Pfrimmer, Owen Jelinek, Grant Magnuson and Spencer Schultz. Mason Barth in the heptathlon, Kaden Martin in the 60-meter hurdles Primmer in the 800 meters and Connor Walechka in the weight throw. Barth, Martin, Pfrimmer and Walechka all advanced to the national championships. Barth scored a personal best 5297 points in the heptathlon including setting career-high marks in four individual events en route to his national runner-up finish. The Blue Devils have five individuals elected to the outdoor track North Region in seven events. Mason Barth in the Pole Vault, Javelin and Decathlon. Kaden Martin in the 110-meter hurdles. Lance Pfrimmer in the 800-meters, Karter Rashke in the shot put and Raegan Sorensen in the women's Javelin. Barth, Martin, Rashke, Sorensen and Jack Roeber all qualified for the national championships. Barth was named All-American with a third place finish in the decathlon Sorensen placed fourth in the javelin with a school record throw of 144’ 9” to earn All-American honors. Jack Roeber broke a 10-year old school record in the triple jump (14.61 meters).
2022: In the 2022 season, senior thrower Kevin Ruechel wrapped up his career with a national championship in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championship and finished second nationally in the outdoor shot put and third in the discus. Ruechel was named the All-North Region outdoor field athlete of the year. Throws coach Kody Zahrte earned the All-North Region outdoor assistant coach of the year award. Sophomore Hannah Zastrow was runner-up nationally in the indoor 60-meter hurdles, getting nudged in a photo finish. Zastrow earned All-America honors in the indoor high jump and outdoors 100-hurdles. Mackenzie Huber earned All-America honors in the indoor shot put and weight throw. Demi Ploor earned All-America status in the outdoor hammer throw. Mason Barth won the WIAC indoor heptathlon and earned All-America honors in the event. Jacob Bugella achieved All-America honors in the indoor weight throw and the outdoor hammer throw. Raegan Sorensen was selected conference outdoor newcomer of the year. Across both the men's and women's indoor and outdoor season, individuals set nine different school records, with 13 freshmen records set. A large number of athletes either improved their school all-time top 10 times or jumped on the list. Indoor, 12 men and 17 women moved onto the top 10 board and outdoors, 21 men and 19 women made the Top 10.
2021: In the 2021 season which featured a complete outdoor season and abbreviated indoor season due to the pandemic, the Blue Devils had a pair of national champions at the outdoor meet when Kevin Ruechel and Noah Zastrow claimed national titles, Ruechel in the shot put and Zastrow in the pole vault, the first time in school history two individuals have earned national titles at the same meet.
2020: In an abbreviated 2020 season that included only the indoor season, the Blue Devils qualified five to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in North Carolina, a meet that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Blue Devil pole vaulters Noah Zastrow and Heather Beecher had made considerable noise on both the national and conference level. Zastrow and Beecher both won conference indoor titles in conference record setting fashion. Zastrow finished the season ranked No. 1 nationally, while Beecher was ranked third on the women's side. Kevin Ruechel won the conference shot put title and was seeded fourth for the national meet, after tossing the second-best mark in school history. Brent Heilman qualified to nationals in the 200-meter after winning the event at the conference championship. Freshman Mackenzie Huber was selected the WIAC newcomer of the year after finishing second at the WIAC Championship in the shot put, and qualifying to the national meet.
2019: The 2019 Blue Devils had 10 qualify to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship and eight individuals and one relay team to the Indoor championship. Stephanie Pladies won the indoor WIAC high jump title, and Brittany Staab and Heather Beecher won outdoor titles, with Staab winning the steeplechase and Beecher the pole vault.
2018: Lydia Meier, Kayla Pabst and Heidi Lieffort earned outdoor All-America honors, Sam Elsner and Kaitlin Mallek earned WIAC indoor field athletes of the meet honors, with Elsner winning the shot put and Mallek the long jump. Mallek also broke the school record in the 60m, finishing second. Elsner won national titles in the indoor shot put and the outdoor discus and earned All-America awards in the indoor weight throw and the outdoor shot put and hammer throw. As a freshman, Noah Zastrow earned pole vault All-America awards both indoor and outdoor.
2017: Lydia Meier was the WIAC women's indoor scholar-athlete, repeated as the conference indoor champion in the weight throw and finished second at the NCAA indoor championship. Michelle Brandt earned All-America honors in the indoor shot put and Heidi Lieffort earned outdoor All-America honors in the discus. The women's team finished third at the WIAC outdoor championship.
2016: Ethen Schoen earned national champion honors in both the indoor hepthathlon and the outdoor decathlon. Lydia Meier earned All-America honors indoors in the weight throw and outdoors in the hammer throw. Michelle Brandt (indoor weight throw), Stephanie Plaides (indoor high jump), Laurisa Titterud (indoor 800) and Emma Sapiro (outdoor heptathlon) earned All-America honors on the women's side, and on the men's side, Eric Fogeltanz (indoor 400, outdoor 400-hurdles) and Christian Lucchesi (outdoor pole vault) earned All-America honors. The women's team finished third at both the WIAC indoor and outdoor championships, the program's best team finishes in each event.
2015: The Blue Devils earned eight combined All-America awards. Patrick Jenkins closed his career with two All-America honors in both the indoor and outdoor 5000m runs. Meagan Ward earned All-America in the pentathlon and the heptathlon. The women's 4x400-relay team, after winning the WIAC indoor title, earned All-America honors. Austin Zett (discus) and Paul Van Grinsven (steeplechase) both earned runner-up honors nationally. Jenkins (5000m, 10,000m), Zett (discus) and Christan Lucchesi (pole vault) won outdoor conference titles. Jenkins (5000m) also won an indoor title. Meagan Ward won the heptathlon and Laurisa Titterud (400m) and Kathleen Thorn (5000m) won indoor conference titles. The Blue Devil men finished fourth at the outdoor WIAC meet, their best team finish since 1998, and were only 10 points out of second place. The Blue Devil women finished fourth at the indoor WIAC meet, their best team finish since 2005.
2014: Stenier was named head coach of the men's and women's teams heading into the 2014 season. Zach Anderson claimed the indoor national hepthathlon title and finished third in the decathlon at the outdoor championship. Jessika Smith was runner-up nationally in the pentathlon and in the hepthathlon. Meagan Ward earned All-American honors in both the pentathlon and heptathlon.The women's 4x400-relay team earned All-America outdoor honors, as did Smith in the long jump. Patrick Jenkins earned All-America honors in the indoor 3000m and 5000m and in the outdoor 5000m and 10,000m. Nick Lubinski earned indoor triple jump All-America honors and Sam Elsner and Austin Zett earned outdoor All-America honors in the discus. On the conference level, individual championships went to Jenkins (3000m indoors; 5000m outdoors, 10,000m outdoors), Lubinski (indoor triple jump), Anderson (outdoor decathlon), Ward (indoor pentathlon) and Smith (outdoor long jump, heptathlon).
2013: In the 2013 season, Zach Anderson repeated as the WIAC outdoor decathlon champion and Jessika Smith repeated as the indoor pentathlon champion. Smith also repeated as the WIAC performer of the meet. Both Anderson and Smith advanced to the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships, where Anderson was runner-up in the heptathlon and Smith runner-up in the pentathlon. At the WIAC Indoor Championship, three Blue Devil women multi members scored - Smith, 1st; Cheyenne Gray, 6th; and Heather Inczauskis, 8th. At the WIAC Outdoor Championships, Meagan Ward finished second and Inczauaskis, third. Both advanced to the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championship.
2012: In 2012, Jessika Smith was named the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Meet after winning the pentathlon and the long jump. Smith won the WIAC outdoor heptathlon title. She finished fifth at the NCAA DIII national championships in the indoor and eighth in the outdoor to earn All-America honors. On the men's side, Daniel Drewek won the WIAC indoor hepthathlon and finished second at the NCAA indoor championships. Zach Anderson finished sixth in the NCAA indoor heptathlon and fourth in the NCAA outdoor decathlon. Brandon Zarnoth was second in the NCAA decathlon. Anderson won the WIAC decathlon title and Zarnorth was second. Zarnoth was second in the indoor heptathlon. Stout sent four (two men, two women) multi-event performers to the outdoor championships, and four (one woman, three men) to the indoor championships. Steiner was named the UW-Stout assistant coach of the year for the 2011-12 season.
2011: Smith was named the WIAC Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Meet after winning the heptathlon. Drewek won the WIAC decathlon title.
BEFORE UW-STOUT
Lynchburg College (2008-2010) Steiner was an assistant track and field coach at Lynchburg College in Virginia for two seasons where he coached the high jump, hurdles, pole vault and decathletes. He also headed up the Lynchburg recruiting efforts.
PLAYING CAREER
UW-Stevens Point (2005-08): A seven-time All-American, Steiner won a national championship as a member of the 4x400-meter relay in 2008 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He was national runner-up in the decathlon in both 2007 and 2008. In 2008, Steiner was named the National Field Athlete of the Year. He was twice the outdoor Regional Field Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2008. Five times during his career, Steiner won a WIAC Championship – twice in the decathlon, twice in the heptathlon and in the indoor high jump in 2007. Steiner still owns the school record for the decathlon, heptathlon and indoor 4x400-meter relay. He is also a two-time CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-American
PERSONAL
A native of Grafton, Wis., Steiner received his bachelor's degree from UW-Stevens Point in biology and natural sciences in 2008. He received his masters' degree in science education from Lynchburg College in 2011. Steiner finished second at the 2010 World Championship Double Decathlon. He was induced into the UW-Stevens Point Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024
Updated: Aug 2024
