MENOMONIE (March 18, 2010) – UW-Stout Athletic Director Joe Harlan said that he will step down from his position June 30. Harlan, who came to UW-Stout in 2000 as the women's cross country coach, women's track & field coach and instructor in the physical education department, is leaving the position he has held since June 2007.
“I have enjoyed my time at UW-Stout,” Harlan, 41, said. “But I am looking forward to new challenges. After 10 years, I felt the need for some changes that meet my long-term life goals.
“Things are going well for UW-Stout Athletics, and I felt this to be a great time to leave. I am excited about many potential new opportunities and look forward to exploring what will be a good fit for my future goals for both my professional and personal life.”
UW-Stout Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen thanked Harlan for his 10 years of service to the university as an instructor, coach and administrator.
“Joe has done a stellar job during his entire career at UW-Stout and has been an excellent athletic director,” Sorensen said. “I accepted his resignation with deep regret. I know he will be successful in whatever opportunity he chooses to pursue in the future.”
Harlan said he believes staff additions over the past several years will “help drive the future of this athletic department.”
During Harlan's tenure, he has been involved with the upgrade of the Don & Nona Williams Stadium football field to a new artificial playing surface, an upgrade in the weight room, a continued upgrade of the athletic training center and the establishment of a capital equipment replacement plan. This past January, the athletic department received the Diversity in Athletics overall excellence award from the NCAA.
Harlan coached track and cross country for seven years, building the program from as few as 10 athletes in the program to more than 50 women in the program. As coach, Harlan had two national champions, saw 21 different school records fall and his track team finished fifth at the 2004 NCAA Division III indoor championships.
In the classroom, Harlan said he especially enjoyed teaching Physiology of Exercise and Sports Psychology classes.
Harlan said, though, that it all comes back to the relationships over the years with the student-athletes and staff.
“I have worked with a great group of coaches, staff and student-athletes,” Harlan said. “This has been a really fun ride. I have enjoyed my time here greatly and enjoyed working with the staff and, of course, the fantastic student-athletes who make my job so rewarding.
“Professionally, this has been a time of great growth and very rewarding.”
UW-Stout will conduct a national search for the athletic director position, with a target date of July 1 to have a successor in place.
