University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Hermsmeier Named Rifle Head Coach
Jun 29, 2017 | Rifle
Seven-time All-American returns home to take over program's reins.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Welcome home, Dan!
Just over three years after helping guide University of Memphis rifle to its best NCAA finish in school history, Dan Hermsmeier returns to take over the reins of the Tigers program as head coach Thursday. Hermsmeier fills the post vacated by Butch Woolbright, who retired after 24 seasons as the program's architect and head coach in April.
"I'm extremely excited to come back to Memphis, a university and city that I love, and help mold Tigers rifle into a national championship-contending program," said Hermsmeier. "There is a lot of talent on the team, and my staff and I have some ideas on how to get the team to the level they need to be to compete for titles.
"It's a great honor for me to come back to a program that gave me so much and kick-started my career in rifle. I'm extremely grateful to Tom (Bowen), Eric (Sabin) and the rest of the administration for giving me this opportunity. I see a great road ahead and a lot of good things for this program in the future."
Hermsmeier, a seven-time All-America first teamer at Memphis from 2011-14, returns to collegiate rifle after a brief stint as an audit associate with Anders CPAs and Advisors in St. Louis, Missouri. Before his work with the firm, he served as a graduate assistant coach for the national powerhouse West Virginia Mountaineers rifle program from 2014-16.
While in Morgantown, Hermsmeier helped guide the Mountaineers to the program's 18th and 19th overall NCAA titles in 2015 and 2016. The crowns are a part of West Virginia's current run of five-straight NCAA championships. He was involved in nearly every aspect of the program, including coaching current student-athletes, scheduling on-campus recruiting visits and coordinating training schedules and travel itineraries.
As the program's lone graduate assistant, Hermsmeier also was in charge of the West Virginia rifle club program. He directed the squad to its first National Rifle Association (NRA) Club Championship in 2015.
In addition to his schoolwork and coaching duties, Hermsmeier trained for a spot on the United States Olympic rifle team (air rifle) that competed at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil. He shot in the U.S. Olympic team trials in early June of 2016.
Hermsmeier earned his Masters of Professional Accountancy (MPA) degree from West Virginia in 2016.
The Chesterfield, Missouri, native arrived in the Bluff City in the fall of 2010 and left as one of the rifle program's – and athletics department's – most-honored student-athletes.
"Dan Hermsmeier is one of the most decorated student-athletes to compete for our rifle program," said Athletics Director Tom Bowen. "Nationally, he is highly known and respected as a leader in the sport, and we couldn't be more pleased that Dan has agreed to return to home and become the next rifle head coach at the University of Memphis."
Hermsmeier qualified individually for the NCAA Championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. As a senior in 2014, he helped lead the Tigers to the program's best national team finish. With Hermsmeier serving as a team captain, Memphis earned a fourth-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Championships. The squad also placed third in the nation in smallbore.
He also was a nine-time All-Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) honoree. Hermsmeier posted career highs in both smallbore (587) and air rifle (595) his senior campaign.
Off the range, Hermsmeier was a two-time Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Academic Team honoree. He also was a two-time Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll selection (2012, 2013) and a Tiger 3.0 Club member. Hermsmeier graduated with honors from the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in accounting in May of 2014.
"I give a lot of credit to Coach (Butch) Woolbright," said Hermsmeier. "He taught me everything I know about being a successful student-athlete. Then, at West Virginia, I got to learn from the best rifle program in the country and see what the head coach and student-athletes do to be so successful.
"I wanted to get back into coaching so I could share my experience and knowledge and give back to a program that provided me with so many opportunities."
Hermsmeier was a four-year member of the U.S. National Development Team. In 2011, he was the USA Shooting Junior Air Rifle National Champion and also earned a silver medal in the men's division.
He takes over the Tigers as the program looks forward to its first full season training and competing in its new on-campus home, the Memphis Rifle Facility in South Hall. The Tigers moved into their new residence in January of 2017 and hosted its final two home matches of the 2016-17 campaign at the facility.
"I was blown away by the new range they have on campus," Hermsmeier said. "Eric, the student-athletes and athletics department did a lot of work on that to get it up and running in a short period of time.
"The new range is going to be a nice recruiting tool for us. It also helps the current student-athletes, giving them a nice facility to practice and train for the season. Having the range on campus is extremely beneficial for the student-athletes. I'm excited to have the first full season in the new range in 2017-18."
Just over three years after helping guide University of Memphis rifle to its best NCAA finish in school history, Dan Hermsmeier returns to take over the reins of the Tigers program as head coach Thursday. Hermsmeier fills the post vacated by Butch Woolbright, who retired after 24 seasons as the program's architect and head coach in April.
"I'm extremely excited to come back to Memphis, a university and city that I love, and help mold Tigers rifle into a national championship-contending program," said Hermsmeier. "There is a lot of talent on the team, and my staff and I have some ideas on how to get the team to the level they need to be to compete for titles.
"It's a great honor for me to come back to a program that gave me so much and kick-started my career in rifle. I'm extremely grateful to Tom (Bowen), Eric (Sabin) and the rest of the administration for giving me this opportunity. I see a great road ahead and a lot of good things for this program in the future."
Hermsmeier, a seven-time All-America first teamer at Memphis from 2011-14, returns to collegiate rifle after a brief stint as an audit associate with Anders CPAs and Advisors in St. Louis, Missouri. Before his work with the firm, he served as a graduate assistant coach for the national powerhouse West Virginia Mountaineers rifle program from 2014-16.
While in Morgantown, Hermsmeier helped guide the Mountaineers to the program's 18th and 19th overall NCAA titles in 2015 and 2016. The crowns are a part of West Virginia's current run of five-straight NCAA championships. He was involved in nearly every aspect of the program, including coaching current student-athletes, scheduling on-campus recruiting visits and coordinating training schedules and travel itineraries.
As the program's lone graduate assistant, Hermsmeier also was in charge of the West Virginia rifle club program. He directed the squad to its first National Rifle Association (NRA) Club Championship in 2015.
In addition to his schoolwork and coaching duties, Hermsmeier trained for a spot on the United States Olympic rifle team (air rifle) that competed at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil. He shot in the U.S. Olympic team trials in early June of 2016.
Hermsmeier earned his Masters of Professional Accountancy (MPA) degree from West Virginia in 2016.
The Chesterfield, Missouri, native arrived in the Bluff City in the fall of 2010 and left as one of the rifle program's – and athletics department's – most-honored student-athletes.
"Dan Hermsmeier is one of the most decorated student-athletes to compete for our rifle program," said Athletics Director Tom Bowen. "Nationally, he is highly known and respected as a leader in the sport, and we couldn't be more pleased that Dan has agreed to return to home and become the next rifle head coach at the University of Memphis."
Hermsmeier qualified individually for the NCAA Championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. As a senior in 2014, he helped lead the Tigers to the program's best national team finish. With Hermsmeier serving as a team captain, Memphis earned a fourth-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Championships. The squad also placed third in the nation in smallbore.
He also was a nine-time All-Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) honoree. Hermsmeier posted career highs in both smallbore (587) and air rifle (595) his senior campaign.
Off the range, Hermsmeier was a two-time Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Academic Team honoree. He also was a two-time Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll selection (2012, 2013) and a Tiger 3.0 Club member. Hermsmeier graduated with honors from the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in accounting in May of 2014.
"I give a lot of credit to Coach (Butch) Woolbright," said Hermsmeier. "He taught me everything I know about being a successful student-athlete. Then, at West Virginia, I got to learn from the best rifle program in the country and see what the head coach and student-athletes do to be so successful.
"I wanted to get back into coaching so I could share my experience and knowledge and give back to a program that provided me with so many opportunities."
Hermsmeier was a four-year member of the U.S. National Development Team. In 2011, he was the USA Shooting Junior Air Rifle National Champion and also earned a silver medal in the men's division.
He takes over the Tigers as the program looks forward to its first full season training and competing in its new on-campus home, the Memphis Rifle Facility in South Hall. The Tigers moved into their new residence in January of 2017 and hosted its final two home matches of the 2016-17 campaign at the facility.
"I was blown away by the new range they have on campus," Hermsmeier said. "Eric, the student-athletes and athletics department did a lot of work on that to get it up and running in a short period of time.
"The new range is going to be a nice recruiting tool for us. It also helps the current student-athletes, giving them a nice facility to practice and train for the season. Having the range on campus is extremely beneficial for the student-athletes. I'm excited to have the first full season in the new range in 2017-18."
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