| The Mackenzie Wartenberger File |
| Coaching Experience |
| 2019-pres. | Wisconsin | Head Coach |
| 2015-19 | Utah | Head Coach |
| 2013-15 | Radford | Head Coach |
| 2009-13 | UNC Charlotte | Assistant Coach |
| All-Americans |
| · Alissa Niggemann (WIS) - 2021 Second Team |
| · Alicia Monson (WIS) - 2019 First Team (XC) |
| · Amy Davis (WIS) - 2019 First Team (XC) |
| · Grayson Murphy (Utah) - 2017 First Team (XC); 2017 First-Team Track; 2018 First-Team Track |
| · Sarah Feeney (Utah) - 2019 First Team Track |
Mackenzie Wartenberger joined the Badger program as the head women’s cross country coach and assistant track and field coach in August of 2019.
In her first year at Wisconsin, Wartenberger guided the Badgers to a second-place finish at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships. Alicia Monson won her second-straight conference title and also finished as the NCAA runner-up. As a team, Wisconsin finished seventh at the NCAA Championships, the team's highest finish in 13 years. Monson went on to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olymipcs in the 10,000 meters.
On the track in 2021, Alissa Niggemann earned second-team All-America honors in the steeplechase, breaking her own school record. She also qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Five UW distance runners competed at the NCAA West Preliminary Round in 2021.
“I am excited to welcome Mackenzie Wartenberger as our new head women’s cross country coach and assistant track and field coach,” said Mick Byrne, director of track and field and cross country. “Mackenzie has been coaching at the division one level for 11 years and has a successful record at the highest level.
“She has an undeniable passion for our sport and for the success of her student-athletes on and off the track. Additionally, Mackenzie has a proven track record in recruiting and I am confident she will elevate our student-athletes’ experience and help them achieve their full potential.”
Leading the Utes
Wartenberger comes to Wisconsin from the University of Utah, where she spent four years as the women’s cross country coach and assistant track and field coach. She led Utah to NCAA cross country championship appearances in 2015 and 2016, the first team appearances in school history. The Utes finished 20th at NCAAs in 2016, improving six spots from the 2015 finish.
In 2017, Wartenberger coached senior Grayson Murphy to an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championship, the best-ever finish by a Utah runner. Utah had six athletes earn nine all-region honors over the last four seasons, with Murphy earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2017. The Utes were ranked as high as 17th over the past four seasons, their highest ranking in school history.
Wartenberger coached Murphy to five All-America honors, including two first-first team honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Murphy also set school records in the 3,000 steeplechase, indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters, and outdoor 10,000 meters.
“I feel honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the tradition of success at the University of Wisconsin, and to work alongside the talented staff and student athletes that make up the Badger Athletics community,” said Wartenberger. “I want to thank Coach Byrne and the Wisconsin Athletics administration for their confidence in me, and their commitment to women’s athletics at the highest levels.
“There is an amazing tradition of excellence in Madison, and I am looking forward to continuing to build on the foundations laid by Coach Jill Miller, and all the Badgers who have helped shaped this national caliber program.”
Other records set during Wartenberger tenure at Utah include the indoor 3,000-meter mark and the distance medley relay time. She also led junior Sarah Feeny to All-America honors in the indoor mile in 2019. Utah has sent 13 runners to the NCAA West Preliminary over the past four seasons.
Starting her coaching career
Wartenberger also spent two seasons as the head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Radford University. In 2014, the Highlanders’ women's cross country team finished third in the Big South Conference, their best finish since 1990, and had two all-conference performers. The men finished fourth in 2014, their best finish since 2007. In track, she helped Radford win six conference titles in women’s distance races.
Wartenberger spent four seasons at UNC Charlotte (2009-13) as an assistant distance coach. Between the men's and women's distance squads, she coached three NCAA Outdoor Championship qualifiers, nine NCAA regional qualifiers, three USATF Championships qualifiers, and two Atlantic 10 Conference champions. Charlotte won 12 team conference titles in indoor and outdoor track.
Middle distance standout at Cal
Wartenberger (formerly Pierce) competed in track and cross country at California from 2005-09. She was the 2009 MPSF Champion in the 800 meters. Wartenberger was a member of the 4x400-meter relay team that finished 18th at the 2007 NCAA Championships, and is part of the group that holds the school record in the event. In 2007, she advanced to the semifinals in the 800 meters at the USA Championships and was a two-time regional qualifier in the event. Wartenberger's career-best 800-meter time of 2:04.78 ranks sixth all-time at Cal.
Warternberger, who is originally from North Carolina, earned a bachelor of arts degree from California in peace and conflict studies in 2009. She is married to her husband, Marc.
