Sept. 28, 2011

MILWAUKEE - Travis Anderson has been named as assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's and women's track and field teams, focusing in the areas of sprints hurdles and jumps, head coach Pete Corfeld announced today.

Anderson has been on staff at Milwaukee for four seasons, serving the assistant strength and conditioning coach, while assisting the track teams in the sprints and hurdles.

"I'm incredibly excited for the opportunity to expand my coaching duties here at UWM," Anderson said. "I just want to thank Pete and the administration for giving me the opportunity to do something I truly love. My expectation is that we continue our winning tradition here and I'm psyched for that challenge."

Anderson has helped Milwaukee continue its legacy of dominance in track and field as the Panthers have won the indoor and outdoor Horizon League Championship in each of his four years with the team.

Many of the student-athletes he directly worked with over that time saw improvement from his expertise. Sophomore Dexter Schleis placed an impressive seventh at the U.S. Junior Nationals and was named a Junior All-American last year.

Several other Panthers reached the NCAA Regionals under Anderson's tutelage, as well, most recently being Calanetta Burrows (400m hurdles) and Durell Busby (110m hurdles).

"He's been here with track and field and strength and conditioning for a couple years," Corfeld said. "He's shown to me that he's up to the task, he's got experience with our team and our athletic program and he knows what's expected. Obviously, one of the expectations is that we're winning conference championships and getting people to regionals and nationals."

Prior to coaching, Anderson was a three-time All-American at Oregon, helping the Ducks' 4x400m relay qualify for the NCAA Championships in each of his four years outdoors and twice indoors.

"He's a champion," Corfeld said. "He's been to the highest level. He's been around arguably the greatest athletes in the country, not only collegiately on his team at Oregon but also the unattached post-collegiate athletes that train at Oregon. I call Oregon the temple of track and field. That's what it is. Everything is happening at the University of Oregon and he was a part of that so it's great to have him on our staff. I like to have Travis bring that experience to our student athletes and I know it's motivational to them and it will continue to be.

"He's for sure a track and field person. He lives and breathes it, no question about it. It's great to have him on the staff and I know he'll motivate the athletes and get them to higher levels."

Anderson is certified as a Sprints, Hurdle and Relay Specialist through the USTFCCCA.