Loras College Athletics

Denise Udelhofen was named Loras’ Director of Athletics on March 11, 2015.

Her first year saw the Duhawks finish 54th in the Learfield Sports Directors Cup, improving every year in the standings with a 16th place finish in 2019. 75 student athletes earned All-Academic honors, which was the the most in over eight years. Men’s soccer, men’s cross country and women’s basketball earned berths in the NCAA Championship field by winning respective conference championships and/or conference tournament championships. Men’s soccer led the way with a National Runner-Up Finish, while men’s cross country placed 14th, both of which were the highest finishes in program history. Women’s cross country won an Iowa Conference Title for the first time in program history.

Under Udelhofen, the Duhawks have also been featured at the National stage with women's track & field winning the first National Championship in Loras history in 2019 and wrestling earning National Runner-Up honors at the 2019 National Championship. 

In 25 years at the college, Udelhofen has held many roles throughout the department before being named Director of Athletics. She served as Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Women’s Administrator for five years. In this role, she was responsible for event management, which included hosting NCAA men’s and women’s soccer preliminary rounds and NCAA Central Region wrestling championships. She served as the moderator for Loras Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and in her time Travis Misner (’14) served as a National SAAC member and was named Chair in his last year.

Prior to entering administration Udelhofen coached men’s and women’s golf. During her tenure, she led both programs to the upper division of the Iowa Conference, including numerous all-conference performers and was recognized by her peers as the Iowa Conference Coach of the Year three times, twice for the women (2005, 2007) and once for the men (2005). In 2005, Loras captured the Iowa Conference Men’s Team Championship. Pete Weber qualified for the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships in both 2004 and 2005. Weber was honored with the Jack Nicklaus award in 2005, which recognizes the most outstanding golfer in NCAA Division III. 

Udelhofen began her career at Loras College coaching volleyball and softball as well as teaching in the physical education and sport studies departments. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sport management and master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in athletic administration. 

In addition to many Loras College committees Udelhofen has attended various NCAA conferences and served on the following committees:

 
Throughout her time in athletics, Udelhofen has attended the NACWAA/HERS conference in 2009, the NCAA Student-Athlete Affairs Symposium in 2010 and the NCAA New Athletic Director Orientation in 2016. Under her direction and coordination with the college's Center for Inclusion and Advocacy, Udelhofen helped lead the athletics department to honorable mention status for the 2020 Award for Diversity and Inclusion, presented by the NCAA and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA). She was also named as the inaugural recipient of the Loras College Champion of Diversity Award for her leadership in leading Athletics towards inclusion while advocating for issues pertaining to LGBTQIA+ identifying students, racial minorities, and issues surrounding brain/mental health. Udelhofen has also given presentations as a panelist at the Midwest Conference Women in Sport Day, Apple Valley High School Girls in Sport Day and as a main presenter for the American Rivers Conference Women in College Athletics seminar.
 
Denise and her husband, Jeff, reside in the Dubuque area with two children, Cody and Allison '23.