GUNNISON --- The Western Colorado University Athletic Department is excited to announce the hiring of Daniel Wentzel as the Mountaineers' head strength and conditioning coach.

Wentzel comes to Western Colorado after being the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Colorado School of Mines since 2017 where he developed sport-specific programs for football and wrestling. During that time, the Oredigger wrestling program went from 1-5 in RMAC action to winning the RMAC championship and going 7-0 in 2019-20 (no RMAC champion was crowned in 2021). As for the football program, it has gone 29-7 overall, 26-4 in conference play and won two RMAC championships during his time with Mines. Wentzel also implemented and monitored training for women's basketball and softball.

"We're excited to have Daniel aboard with us at Western Colorado," Mountaineer Director of Athletics Miles Van Hee said. "He brings with him experience at another RMAC school, an open mind to training, invaluable life experience and he will fit in well with the Gunnison community. He's going to help our Mountaineer student-athletes not only maximize their potential - but has a focus keeping them competing and avoiding injury."

Wentzel was a team captain and all-conference linebacker at Tennessee Tech University before going into the private sector as a project manager for a construction company. He also worked as a construction manager for Tough Mudder and as a construction consultant - but strength and conditioning has been a passion of his throughout and he's been transitioning into the profession for eight years - working as a personal fitness coach since 2013.