Frank Wrigglesworth developed the UW-Eau Claire men’s golf program into a conference power and regular national tournament participant during a 22-year period from 1975-97. During the final 18 years in which golf was played as a conference championship, the Blugolds won eight titles with four runner-up finishes. He took 10 teams to the NAIA or NCAA national championships. Despite competing against scholarship programs in the NAIA, the Blugolds had five top-14 finishes.
Wrigglesworth was a standout Blugold athlete in football, basketball and baseball. He earned All-Conference honors in football and played on two conference championship teams in basketball as well as the first Blugold team to qualify for the NAIA championships in Kansas City.
“Wrig” spent 11 years as an assistant football coach, one year as an assistant basketball coach, and nine years as head and assistant baseball coach before taking over the golf program, which he handled until his retirement at age 80. In 2012, he was selected as the WIAC All-Time Coach in men’s golf in conjunction with the WIAC Centennial Celebration.
After 23 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Wrigglesworth retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from UW-Eau Claire and master’s degree in physical education from UW-Madison. Wrigglesworth passed away in November 2004.