Rob Erickson

Posted 5/15/087

New UW-Platteville football coaches Rob Erickson and Jason Wagner are coming home.

Erickson, a former Pioneer player and assistant, is UWP's new defensive coordinator, while Lancaster native Wagner is the offensive line coach. Both most recently served on the Aurora (Ill.) staff.

"We're very fortunate to bring in two coaches of their caliber," Pioneer Coach Mike Emendorfer said. "They have a lot of experience and name recognition in Southwest Wisconsin and ties in Chicago, which will help us in our Tri-State Initiative program."

Erickson was a four-year starter at defensive back, captaining the team as a senior in 1999. He led the team in interceptions in each of his last three seasons and was second in tackles in both 1997 and 1999. Erickson went on to coach at Stevens Point High School (2000-02), UW-Platteville (2002-03), UW-Stevens Point (2003-04), Iowa Wesleyan (2005) and Aurora (2005-08). He was the defensive coordinator at the last three stops.

In 2007, he guided Aurora to a nationally ranked defensive with nine all-conference performers. The Spartans yielded 17 points and 280 yards per game. In two of his three seasons, Erickson led Aurora to first place in the Illini Badger Football Conference in forced turnovers. He finished his bachelor of science degree in history at UW-Stevens Point and earned his master's at UWSP in general education in 2006. He and his wife Kelly, the former UWSP softball coach, have three children: Maya, Jared, and Kami.

"The think I like the most about Robbie is he is very excited to be here and make this his home," Emendorfer said. "It's a goal of ours to bring back people who played here, especially during my tenure, and Robbie has outstanding coordinator experience and such a strong passion to return."

Jason Wagner

Wagner is a former Lancaster Flying Arrow star who went on to start at UW-Stevens Points, helping the Pointers to an NCAA III playoff berth as a senior in 2001. He then coached at his alma mater until leaving in 2004 for Coe. He joined the Aurora staff in 2005. Wagner served as the offensive line coach at all three places and also served as the strength and conditioning coordinator.

A health promotions/wellness major, he earned his bachelor's degree from UW-Stevens Point and his master's of science in sports management from California University of Pennsylvania in 2006. He is married to Jen, a certified athletic trainer.

"Jason is a former standout player in the league who also exceled at Lancaster High School," Emendorfer said. "He also wants to come back and make this program a conference contender. We're excited about what Jason brings to the program."

Erickson replaces Tom Watts, who accepted a position closer to his family at Westminster (Penn.), while Wagner replaces Bill Diesing, who went into business in Chicago. Emendorfer has also begun a search to replace defensive line coach Vinson Reynolds, who accepted a position at Oklahoma State.

The Pioneers report to fall camp on August 16 and open the season Sept. 6 at Buena Vista in Storm Lake, Iowa.