RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - Colleen Sowa has been named head men's and women's track and field coach according to director of athletics, Crystal Lanning.
 
"Today is a special day for Falcon Athletics as we welcome Coach Sowa back to UW-River Falls to lead the men's and women's track and field programs," Lanning said. "Her experience as a championship caliber student-athlete and coach, along with her strong connections to UWRF and the track and field communities, make her the perfect fit to lead our track and field program."
 
Sowa returns to UWRF after spending the last two years as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Minnesota. She had previously served as the head girls track and field coach at River Falls High School.
 
"I am extremely excited and honored to be given the opportunity to return to my alma mater and lead the Falcon track and field program. UW-River Falls is a special place for me and my family. I look forward to being able to serve the University and give back to the program that has done so much for me. This program has the ability to be strong and competitive and I look forward to the challenge of building this program to its potential. I want to thank Crystal Lanning and the search committee for giving me this incredible opportunity. I also want to thank Coach Bingle and the rest of the University of Minnesota track and field staff for all their support and guidance over the last two years."
 
While at Minnesota, Sowa worked specifically with the women's sprints, jumps, hurdles and multi event athletes, as well the men's 800 runners. During the 2017-18 season, the Gopher women's track and field team won both the indoor and outdoor Big Ten Championships.
 
Prior to her time at Minnesota, Sowa was the head coach for the girls track and field team at River Falls High School, where she also taught health and physical education. During her time at River Falls High School, Sowa lead the Wildcats to three Big Rivers Conference titles in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2015, she was named District III Girls Coach of the Year by the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association.
 
Known as Colleen Kopel during her time as a student-athlete, Sowa competed for the Falcon track and field team as a heptathlete from 2008-11. She won the WIAC heptathlon title in 2009 and qualified for the NCAA DIII championships in the heptathlon in 2009 and 2010. She was also named the WIAC Scholar-Athlete for outdoor track and field in 2011. Sowa earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education from UW-River Falls in 2011.
 
Sowa currently resides in River Falls, WI with her husband Charlie who also works for UW-River Falls.