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Naatz and Schockmel Receive WIAC Special Recognition Award

MADISON, Wis.--Duey Naatz and Barry Schockmel have received the WIAC Special Recognition Award from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).
 
The Special Recognition Award is presented to individuals who have made unique contributions and/or have served the conference in an official capacity (e.g., athletics administrators, coaches, faculty athletics representatives, officials) over a number of years.
 
Naatz was with University of Wisconsin-Stout for 35 years, including 15 years as Athletics Director. His tenure as athletics director went from 2010-25 and he oversaw 22 varsity programs and served as a member of the chancellor’s cabinet, a role he assumed in Spring 2021. His initiatives included the establishment of scholar-athlete and senior awards events, roster size increases, improvements in overall GPA and graduation rates, and the addition of new programs – esports, dance, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer and women’s flag football.
 
Naatz led major facility projects, including the Nelson Field Soccer Complex renovation, the stadium turf renovation, and championed the planned Recreation Complex renovation. He also championed branding efforts, such as the Adidas partnership, logo updates, and a mascot upgrade, alongside the development of the Blue Devil Fund and Giving Day initiatives, which significantly boosted fundraising efforts.
 
Before stepping into an administrative role, Naatz made his mark as head football coach from 2007-09. During his three seasons at the helm, he compiled a 17-13 overall record. The 2009 season saw the Blue Devils finish 8-2 - the third time in school history the team achieved eight or more wins in a single season.
 
Prior to being the head football coach, Naatz served in a variety of roles, including assistant football coach, strength and conditioning coordinator, assistant track coach, facilities manager and instructor in the Physical Education Department.

Schockmel served as the diving coach at UW-La Crosse for 50 years, and an assistant coach in football and track & field. He started as an assistant football coach in 1969 and remained in the role for 35 years. During that time, UW-La Crosse won 18 conference championships, appeared in 41 postseason playoff games and won national titles in 1985, 1992 and 1995.
 
He was appointed defensive coordinator in 2001, and the Eagles claimed three straight conference titles and earned three NCAA automatic bids in his four years in that role. Schockmel was tabbed the 2002 WIAC Assistant Coach of the Year and 2003 AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
As head diving coach, he is credited with guiding the development of UW-La Crosse’s divers. Jane Marien was a NAIA champion in 1989 under Schockmel’s tutelage. In addition, UW-La Crosse earned the WIAC Women's Diver of the Meet in 12 of the 18 years it was awarded, and claimed the men’s award four times. Justin Bublitz earned six career NCAA Division III All-America diving honors under Schockmel, the most for a UW-La Crosse diver in school history.  
 
UW-La Crosse won 20 women’s team conference championships and four men’s team titles in his career.
 
As a student at UW-La Crosse, Schockmel competed in gymnastics two years, track & field three years and football four years. He earned letters in track and football. Schockmel secured All-Conference honors and All-America honorable mention accolades during his junior and senior seasons. His 16 career interceptions are tied for fourth on the program’s all-time list.
 
A diving meet at UW-La Crosse is named in his honor – Barry Schockmel Diving Classic. Schockmel was inducted into the UW-La Crosse Wall of Fame in 1996, and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
 
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