Wisconsin Lutheran athletic director Skip Noon has named former player and assistant coach Eric Treske as the next head coach of the Warriors football program, it was announced Friday. Treske, who becomes the third head coach in the program's 20-year history, succeeds outgoing head coach Dennis Miller, who last week announced his retirement.
"It is a blessing and an honor to be the next head football coach at Wisconsin Lutheran College," said Treske. "We have an incredible opportunity to use our passion for the game of football to share the love of Christ and build the next generation of servant leaders. The WLC campus is filled with tremendous people, and I look forward to working with Coach Fossum, Coach Donovan, and the rest of the football staff to create a Christ-centered, championship-level football program."
Treske returns to his alma mater after spending the past five seasons as offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning director at fellow Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference member Lakeland. With the Muskies, Treske assisted the team to three straight NCAA Division III playoff appearances (2015-2017) and a combined 24-8 NACC record during his tenure on the Plymouth campus.
Treske coordinated Muskies' offenses that ranked either first or second in the NACC four times, as his teams averaged 34.8 points per game over his five seasons at Lakeland. In 2017, Lakeland ranked second in NCAA Division III in total offense (552.9 yards per game) and eighth in scoring offense (42.3 points per game).
Individually, he mentored quarterback Michael Whitley to third team D3football.com All-American honors in 2017, including three consecutive NACC Offensive Player of the Year awards. This past season, running backs Dez Eddie and Larry Rivers became just the 13th duo in NCAA Division III history to surpass 1,000 yards in a season.
The Cedarburg native joined the Lakeland coaching staff in 2015 after previously serving as a graduate assistant there for two years. He coached the Muskies' wide receivers and was the strength and speed coordinator. Treske earned his master's degree in counseling from Lakeland in 2013 before returning to Wisconsin Lutheran for two seasons. As an assistant coach in 2014, he helped lead the Warriors to their first conference championship in school history.
"We are excited to name a former Warriors football player as our next head coach," said Noon. "Coach Treske left an impact both as a student-athlete and a coach. At Lakeland, he continued to mature and grow as a coach. We are excited to have him on the sidelines to lead the Warriors."
Treske was a four-year letterwinner (2004-2007) as a wide receiver and return man on the WLC football team. He ranks fifth in school history with 110 receptions and sixth all-time with 1,334 receiving yards. Treske was the Warriors' leading receiver both his junior and senior years, combining for over 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns. While at WLC, Treske was an all-conference selection and was twice named the Warriors' most inspirational player. He received a bachelor's degree in communication from WLC in 2008.
Treske and his wife, Jasmin, reside in Milwaukee with their sons, Caiden and Jayden.