MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the defending conference co-champion, and winner of 14 of the last 17 titles, has been picked to secure the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Warhawks, who have posted 39 first-place finishes in program history, enter the 2023 campaign ranked ninth in the Lindy’s Sports NCAA Division III Preseason Poll and No. 11 by D3football.com. UW-Whitewater has secured four consecutive NCAA postseason bids. Jace Rindahl takes over the head coaching duties after serving as an assistant coach with the program for the last eight seasons. He played for the Warhawks from 2005-08, helping the program to its first NCAA Division III title in 2007.
UW-La Crosse, ranked fifth by Lindy’s Sports and No. 12 by D3football.com, is pegged for second in the conference standings. The Eagles shared the WIAC title with UW-Whitewater a season ago and appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament for the second straight season – and 13th time in program archives. UW-La Crosse has compiled 18 wins in the last two seasons, matching its best two-year stretch since 1996-97.
UW-Oshkosh begins the 2023 season ranked No. 21 by D3football.com and is predicted to finish third in the WIAC. The Titans have secured 11 conference titles, with the most recent in 2019.
UW-River Falls, selected fourth in the conference race, has represented the WIAC in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl the past two seasons. The Falcons have totaled 16 victories in 2021 and 2022, for their best two-year stint since 1995-96 (17 wins). UW-River Falls is ranked No. 23 by D3football.com.
The remaining order in the conference predictions feature: UW-Platteville; UW-Stout; UW-Eau Claire; and UW-Stevens Point.
Rob Erickson is the new head coach at UW-Eau Claire. A UW-Platteville alum (1996-99), he most recently served as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University since 2020. Erickson has also been an assistant coach at UW-Whitewater, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and Aurora University (Ill.).
The 2023 season is set to begin Aug. 31, with the conference slate kicking-off Sept. 30.
The WIAC will be represented in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl for the third consecutive season against an opponent from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin – the highest-placing team in each conference’s standings that isn’t selected for the NCAA Division III Championship. This year’s event will be held at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium in Sun Prairie, Wis., Nov. 18.
2023 Preseason Predictions–Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
| 2022 Record | |
| 1. UW-Whitewater | (8-3 overall, 6-1 WIAC) |
| 2. UW-La Crosse | (9-2, 6-1) |
| 3. UW-Oshkosh | (6-4, 4-3) |
| 4. UW-River Falls | (7-4, 4-3) |
| 5. UW-Platteville | (5-5, 4-3) |
| 6. UW-Stout | (5-5, 3-4) |
| 7. UW-Eau Claire | (2-8, 1-6) |
| 8. UW-Stevens Point | (1-9, 0-7) |
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach: Jace Rindahl; 1st season at UWW
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 31/20
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 32/18
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 3/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 4/7
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 7/4
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/0
Returning All-WIAC: Reed Farrington, Jr., DL (2021-Honorable, 2022-Second); Egon Hein, Sr., DB (2021-First, 2022-First); Jeffery Isotalo-McGuire, So., K (2022-Honorable/Newcomer of the Year); Drake Martin, Jr., RB (2022-First); Zach Sherman, Sr., TE (2022-Second); Tamir Thomas, Jr., RB (2022-Second)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Tommy Coates, Jr., WR; Addison DeShambo, Jr., OL; Steven Hein, Jr., WR; John Pekar, Jr., OL
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Parker Breunig, Jr., DB; Matt Burba, Jr., DL; Hawk Heffner, Sr., LB; Kyle Koelblinger, Jr., DB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Nate Custer, Sr., K/P
Editor’s note: The above information was posted to the WIAC website.
