Athletics

Dr. Rob Barnhill was named Director of Athletics at Concordia University Wisconsin in the spring of 2001. During his tenure, Dr. Barnhill has been the leader of the athletic department during a period of growth in areas of personnel, programs, and facilities. The tenure of Dr. Barnhill has seen significant growth in the athletic department staff.

At the time of his appointment, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics was comprised of five full time athletic appointments. Today the department boasts 26 full-time coaches, administrators, and support staff. The additions in personnel have increased daily student-athlete contact with their coaches, raised the level and expectations of professional coaches, and bolstered the visibility of professionals in game management, sports information, and athletic training.

The CUW Athletic Department has enjoyed tremendous growth in facilities since 2001. Dr. Barnhill has worked with University officials to plan and oversee construction of new athletic venues like the Sports Fitness Facility which contains: Athletic Training rooms, Athletic Training Education Program classrooms and lab, Hall of Fame, meeting rooms, coaches’ offices, aerobic room, weight training area, and cardiovascular exercise area.

The department has also enjoyed completion of Phase I of the Outdoor Athletic Field Renovation Project. The Falcons have installed three Pro Grass Synthetic Turf playing surfaces in football, softball, and soccer complimenting the construction of the new soccer stadium and softball field. Dr. Barnhill continues to work with the University officials in planning for Phase II and Phase III of the Outdoor Athletic Field Renovation Project.

At the time of his appointment, Dr. Barnhill inherited an athletic department that consisted of nineteen varsity athletic programs and 400 student-athletes. Today those numbers have grown to 23 teams and 600-plus participants. Dr. Barnhill has been attributed with implementing Men’s and Women’s Hockey in 2005 and starting Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse in 2010. During his tenure the Falcons have won many conference championships and sent teams and individuals to NCAA regional and national competitions.

Dr. Barnhill began his career at CUW as the offensive coordinator with the football team, a position that he held for nine seasons. During that time the Falcons were 70-20 claiming four conference championships and qualifying three times for the NCAA tournament. The offensive unit was consistently among the conference and national leaders in offensive statistical categories and produced CUW’s all-time leading rusher (Immanuel Mills) and CUW’s all-time leading scorer (John Collier). Prior to arriving at CUW, Dr. Barnhill served 13 seasons as assistant football coach at the University of South Dakota, Southwest State University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, and University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Dr. Barnhill is married to CUW assistant registrar Stephanie Barnhill and the couple has two sons Ty and Caden.