In 2018, Dan Haakenson begins his fifth season as Assistant Track & Field Coach for Throws at Western State Colorado University. Haakenson's eye for talent and technical expertise shows in the development of Western's Throws squad in recent years.
During Haakenson's tenure at Western, the throws have improved in success and depth highlighted by three NCAA Division II National Qualifiers (Colby Stinson in the Shot Put, Josie Harris in the Weight Throw, and Ashley Long in the Hammer), three school records (Colby Stinson - Indoor & Outdoor Shot Put and Lovina Akauola - Indoor Shot Put), and three RMAC Champions (Colby Stinson - Outdoor Shot Put '17 & '18 and Josie Harris - Weight Throw).
Under Haakenson's tutelage, Colby Stinson has developed into a championship caliber thrower, breaking his own school records in the shot multiple times while also producing crucial conference points in the other throws.
Additionally, in the 2016-17 season Haakenson's throwers tallied three provisional qualifying marks indoors (Josie Harris and Hannah Erickson in the weight with both throwing over 17.00m and Lovina Akauola in the shot) with an additional five provisional qualifying marks outdoors between the men and women (Stinson - Shot Put, CJ Schutt - Discus, Hannah Erickson - Hammer, and Ashley Long - Hammer). Western throwers contributed valuable points for the 2017 Men's RMAC Outdoor Championship and Women's Runner-Up finish.
Prior to joining the staff at Western, Haakenson coached at his alma mater, NCAA D III Pacific Lutheran University, for nine years. At PLU, Haakenson coached one All-American, 15 National Qualifiers, and 11 Northwest Conference Champions. As a student-athlete at PLU, Haakenson was a three-time NWC champion in the discus and hammer and garnered All-American status in the hammer while graduating with a double major in Classics and English.
Haakenson lives in Gunnison with his wife Amy and three sons, Hamish, Samson, and Alfred.
