For Immediate Release: July 25, 2000
Contact: Derek Smolik, UT Pan American SID

UT Pan American Announces Hiring of Dan Laufer as Head Cross Country and Track Coach

EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Athletic Department announced on Tuesday the hiring of Dan Laufer as the Head Coach for the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field programs.

Laufer, who will be stepping into the position of head coach for the first time, served as the Broncs assistant coach during the 1999-2000 academic year.  Under his tutelage three Bronc and Lady Bronc athletes set school records.  Dawne Hill broke the school record in the hammer throw, Rachel Drury set the school record in both the indoor and outdoor pole vaults and Gonzalo Gonzalez broke the previous mark in the indoor shot put.

“This is a great opportunity professionally and personally,” said Laufer, a native of New York City.  “Since I started coaching, I have always wanted to be a head coach.  I am grateful to Athletic Director William Weidner and our entire administrative staff for giving me this wonderful opportunity to help rebuild the program.  Personally I am happy in the Rio Grande Valley.  It is a great place to live and I look forward to settling down here.  Our goals are to become a nationally respected track and field program.  After signing two nationally recruited student-athletes in only one year, I think our goal is reasonable.  It won’t be easy, but we have great academic and athletic facilities as well as tremendous support from our administration.  We have to continue to recruit nationally, while continuing to develop relationships locally.  I want to have a program that will make it difficult for any Valley athlete to leave here.”

Laufer has already put his mark on the program, serving as the Broncs recruiting coordinator last season.  Seven athletes that Laufer recruited have signed grant-in-aids with UTPA, four of which were all-state performers and another athlete finished in the top 10 in the nation in junior college.

“Dan Laufer possesses all of the qualities that one would look for in a successful head coach and is an ideal fit our developing cross country and track and field program,” said Weidner.  “During his stay at UTPA Dan has demonstrated a strong track record of being an excellent recruiter who has the ability to locate, recruit and sign talented student-athletes who excel in both the athletic and academic arenas.  Dan’s selection from an outstanding applicant pool of 45 candidates will also bring much needed stability to our program.  He is well versed with our operation, has developed an outstanding relationship with our current student-athletes and possesses a solid knowledge of our University.  Coach Laufer has earned the respect of our coaching staff and administrative personnel for his strong work ethic, proactive organizational approach and his ability to be a team player within the department.  His teaching ability and true passion for the coaching profession are further evidence that Dan Laufer is properly prepared to take the next step in his career as the new head coach of our men’s and women’s cross country and track and field program.”

Prior to his time at UTPA, Laufer served as the assistant track and field coach at Loyola University of Chicago, assisting in all aspects of the team’s operation, while specializing in the training of the sprinters and jumpers.  Prior to his time at Loyola, Laufer was the assistant coach at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York.  At both Wagner and Loyola Laufer coached field event athletes to conference championships.

As an athlete, Laufer was a standout at Manhattan College in New York City.  A four-year letterwinner for MC, Laufer was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference pole vault champion in 1992.  Laufer graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Manhattan in 1994.  He is currently an MBA candidate at Wagner College.

Laufer was the Field Events Coach for New York City at the Empire State Games in 1998.  He also works as a consultant for Lakeshore Athletic Services.  He helps to coordinate many prestigious road races around the country, such as the Chicago Marathon, Cincinnati Marathon, Madison Marathon and the USA Ironman Triathlon in Lake Placid, N.Y.