Stratton Takes Over As Titans' Head Wrestling Coach
UW-Oshkosh Director of Athletics Darryl
Sims announced Wednesday (Sept. 22) that Chris Stratton has been
named the new head wrestling coach for the Titans.
Stratton, who had been an assistant wrestling coach at UW-Oshkosh
for the past two seasons, replaces Mike DeRoehn who resigned in
August after six years as head coach and eight years with the
program to focus on his work with the Wisconsin Wrestling
Federation. DeRoehn has since been named the new head wrestling
coach at Lakeland College.
"It's an honor and a privilege to be the new head wrestling coach
at UW-Oshkosh," said Stratton. "I've been a part of the UW-Oshkosh
wrestling program as both a student-athlete and assistant coach,
and now I look forward to leading the Titans to new heights at both
the conference and national level."
Stratton earned varsity letters in wrestling for UW-Oshkosh in
2004, 2005 and 2007. The Appleton native placed sixth in the
125-pound weight class at the WIAC Championship in both 2004 and
2005.
"Chris did an outstanding job as an assistant coach for us," said
Sims. "He has affection for UW-Oshkosh, the educational values we
prioritize, and the ability to make the transition from assistant
coach to head coach seamless. We have an outstanding group of
student-athletes returning, and I think they'll enjoy having Chris
as their head coach."
Since 2008, Stratton has been an instructor in UW-Oshkosh's
Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education. He also taught
exercise sport science courses at UW-La Crosse and physical
education classes at Crucifixion Elementary School in La Crescent,
Minn., during the 2007-08 academic year.
Stratton, who holds membership in the National Wrestling Coaches
Association, received his bachelor's degree from UW-Oshkosh in 2007
and master's degree from UW-La Crosse in 2008.
Stratton inherits a UW-Oshkosh wrestling program that has been
represented at the NCAA Division III Championship three times in
the past four years. The Titans finished fourth at the WIAC
Championship in 2009 and fifth in 2010.
The Titans, who posted a 6-7 dual meet record a year ago, open their 2010-11 season at UW-Whitewater on Nov. 10.