That’s because Sten Fjelheim has been head coach of the Wildcats’ Nordic ski team for 34 years.

Now he’s announced his retirement in a career that also included stints as cross country running coach in an overall 35-year career at NMU, according to a Tuesday news release from NMU Sports Information.

Fjeldheim has coached 102 All-American award winners and seven national champions in skiing, attributing some of that success to recruiting student-athletes who were a good fit for the culture he created around the program.

“If you have a culture of having a strong work ethic, knowing how to win and how to lose, and of being good at everything you decide you want to do, then that’s the type of kid I wanted in my program,” he said in the NMU news release.

FJELDHEIM

“I always rolled up my sleeves and tried to do the best job I could. It’s precious cargo I was hauling around. It’s people’s families and kids and I’ve always had that in the back of my mind.

“I’m fortunate in many ways to have met all of my student-athletes and also fortunate that their parents put their trust in us. I made sure that I always kept the rubber down on the road and made sure that I had my thumb on the heartbeat of the team.”

That culture led to immense success, including 15 consecutive men’s Nordic skiing NCAA Central Region titles from 2007-21. The final eight years of that streak also included women’s Nordic skiing NCAA Central Region championships every year.

“Sten’s accomplishments are legendary and what I will always appreciate most is his positive impact on coworkers,” NMU Director of Athletics Forrest Karr said. “Sten often says, ‘First you form an attitude then it forms you.’

“For decades, he inspired everyone around him to be and do more. Sten’s attitude and work ethic built NMU skiing into a nationally recognized program and he did it the right way, prioritizing student-athlete wellness and encouraging academic excellence.

“I would like to thank Sten and (wife) Pam for their dedication and lasting contributions to Northern Michigan University.”

Fjeldheim is a native of Haugesund, Norway, and came to the U.S. in 1961, receiving U.S. citizenship in 1975. He graduated from NMU in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and in 1992 with a master’s degree in education with an exercise science emphasis.

He skied for three winters with the Wildcats and was a member of the U.S. ski team from 1980-86, including as a member of the World University team from 1983-85. He competed in five Olympic Trials and 18 U.S. National Skiing Championships, winning a national relay championship in 1985.

He began coaching at NMU in 1986 and was cross country running coach from 1986-2007.

Among his many accomplishments are:

≤ 2 NCAA women’s Nordic team national championships

≤ A combined NCAA Nordic skiing team national title

≤ 22 men’s regional championships in the modern NCAA era since 1992

≤ 23 women’ regional championships in the modern NCAA era

≤ 6 men’s and women’s regional championships in the NCSA era from 1986-91

≤ 4 men’s national championships in the NCSA era

≤ A women’s national championship in the NCSA era

≤ 6 NCAA Division II women’s cross country national championship appearances

≤ 2 GLIAC women’s cross country championships

≤ A Great Lakes women’s cross country regional championship

For Fjeldheim, what has happened academically with his teams is just as important as what they accomplished in athletic competition.

“One of the things I am most proud of is that the grade-point average of the ski team has been the highest or tied for the highest with the women’s running team for the 35 years I’ve been here,” Fjeldheim said. “We’ve had several outstanding graduating seniors in their departments, and really if I didn’t have such a great group of young adults to coach I’m not so sure I would have stayed in coaching.

“I have never had any issues with discipline or motivation.”

Not only has he had 102 All-American and seven national champions, he’s also had 13 skiers on Olympic teams and six U.S. national champs.

“Having four athletes on the 2016 Olympic team was really exciting,” Feldheim said. “Of course, Peter Vordenberg winning the NCAA national championship in 1993 I’ll never forget. We had just moved into the NCAA in 1992 and to have a national champion a year later was really exciting.”

Another highlight that came to mind was much more simple and all about him connecting with the team and having them connect with each other.

“To be honest with you some of my fondest memories were the van rides before technology took over,” Fjeldheim said. “I ask the student-athletes now to put their cell phones away for an hour or two so we can all have that time together. If you want to know what the cafeteria is like just ask me. If you want to know what the dorms are like just ask me. I’m with them in the van for eight hours and you hear the funniest stuff.”

He still remembers how he was offered his first job at Northern.

“I was approached by former athletic director Rick Comley in the hallway of the PEIF. The cross country running coach had recently left and the ski position was also open, so he asked me if I wanted to give it a shot. I did.”

Comley also looks back at the decision to offer the position to Fjeldheim fondly.

“Years ago I had an opportunity to hire a successful national team coach and bring him into NMU,” the former Wildcat hockey coach and director of athletics said. “It was the best decision I ever made, and he went on to become the most successful coach ever at NMU. Congratulations Sten on an amazing career and thank you for teaching us all what it took to develop an All-American.”

Fjeldheim said he started to consider retirement a couple of years ago when his wife, Pamela, had benign tumors discovered during a routine eye exam and had to undergo major surgery and intense radiation for weeks.

It made him think about the bigger picture.

“At that point, I realized we’re not as young as we used to be, and that life is precious,” Fjeldheim said. “It had been many, many years since Pam and I had a free weekend to be together. Then my children started having babies and it’s very difficult for me to leave at any point because I just feel like you know if you don’t keep your thumb on the heartbeat of your program, what are you doing?

“I felt like I had to be here for the team because it’s my responsibility. After (what) Pam went through that summer, I really started thinking about how can I make retirement happen? I wanted to spend some time not just with her, but with my kids and my grandkids.”

Just this week it was announced that Fjeldheim was named Central Collegiate Ski Association Coach of the Year — both for men’s and women’s teams. It marked his eighth time winning this women’s team honor and fifth for the men.

Among other accolades, they are as varied as the 1991 USSA Domestic Coach of the Year and 2000 GLIAC Cross Country (running) Coach of the Year. There’s also the 2005 USSA Development Coach of the Year, the 2011 Northern Michigan Outstanding Excellence in Service Award, 2013 Michigan DNR Volunteer of the Year and 2013-14 Northern Michigan Coach of the Year.

Fjeldheim credits the community of Marquette and NMU for his decision to remain at the university for an extended career.

“I did have some other job opportunities at bigger schools, but every time I thought about them it came to ‘Why would I leave Marquette?’ Everything is accessible and we have skiing and running right out the door. Basically, the community and the university kept me here. This is an incredibly special place.”

While no longer the leader of the program, Fjeldheim’s involvement with the Wildcats is far from over.

“I really feel like as we get older we get wiser. I still have the passion to be a coach, but I don’t think I can use my time for the amount it requires to be the head coach,” Fjeldheim said. “I will support the new coach 100 percent in any way I can. If the new coach is interested, I plan on being some kind of a volunteer and just helping the new coach slide into this job.”

As he comes to the end of his time at NMU, the coach is looking back fondly while also looking ahead.

“I had this opportunity and I was bound and determined to show that our student-athletes and our sports are worthy. I feel like I met my goals, so I’m a happy camper.”

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