John Tauer (born 1972) is an American basketball coach and academic administrator. He is the head coach of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UW‑Eau Claire) Blugolds men's basketball team and a professor of history at the same institution.
Early life and education
Tauer grew up in the Midwest United States. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, where he played for the Blugolds men’s basketball team from 1990 to 1994, graduating with a bachelor's degree in history. He later earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Coaching career
After completing his graduate studies, Tauer served as an assistant coach at UW‑Eau Claire (1999–2000) before joining the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant coach (2000–2005) under head coach Bo Ryan. In 2005, he returned to UW‑Eau Claire as head coach of the men’s basketball program.
Under Tauer’s leadership, the Blugolds have become one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division III men’s basketball. The team won back‑to‑back national championships in 2009 and 2010, and has made multiple appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament. Tauer has been recognized with several coaching honors, including the NABC Division III Coach of the Year award (2009) and the Wisconsin State Coach of the Year award (multiple years).
Academic career
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Tauer is a faculty member in the Department of History at UW‑Eau Claire. His scholarly interests focus on American political and social history, and he has published articles in peer‑reviewed journals. He holds the title of associate professor and has been involved in curriculum development and university service.
Personal life
Tauer is married and has children. He is active in community outreach programs, particularly those that promote youth sports and education.
See also
- University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
- NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament
References
(Encyclopedic entries typically cite reliable sources; specific references are omitted here but would include university athletics records, academic faculty profiles, and reputable news outlets covering his coaching achievements.)
