Brunner joins UW-Whitewater football staff

Dan Brunner, a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, has joined the staff at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Brunner, former head coach at St. Francis and Hartford high schools, earned All-American honors as a member of the Warhawks in the mid-1970s.

Brunner recently retired from teaching after coaching at Hartford Union High School for 19 years. He led the Orioles to a 10-2 record in his last year, with the team advancing to the WIAA Division 1 quarterfinals. He compiled a 135-52 record, including seven conference titles, at Hartford.

Prior to Hartford, Brunner coached at St. Francis High School, where he led the Mariners for 13 years and to a Parkland Conference title in 1980.

Brunner played his collegiate football as a tight end under coach Forrest Perkins. He lettered four times and earned all-conference honors three times, and culminated his career with National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American honors in 1975.

The 1974 and "75 Warhawks won Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. Brunner's years saw the Warhawks go 7-3, 6-2-2, 8-3 and 8-3. He totaled 82 receptions for 1,008 yards at UW-W.

"When I played for Coach Perkins, he always referred to the strength of being part of the 'Warhawk family,'" Brunner said. "His guidance has played a big role throughout my life. As I progressed in my coaching career, I hoped that I could return to that Warhawk family in a coaching capacity and give back to a place that helped from the foundation of a wonderful professional career. This opportunity allows me to do that.

"I look forward to being a part of one of the finest football programs in the country. I am excited for the opportunity to work with Coach (Lance) Leipold and the outstanding staff he has in place."

After ending his career at UW-Whitewater, Brunner had tryouts with the Green Bay Packers in 1976 and '77. He was elected to the UW-Whitewater Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 and was honored by the WFCA in 1996.

Brunner joins a program that has won four consecutive WIAC titles and has advanced to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III championship game - the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl - the last four years, winning the 2007 national championship.

The Warhawks have gone 55-5 over that four year span, including just one loss in the WIAC. UW-W was second in the country in Division III attendance for the 2008 season, and has been among the top 20 in Division III 11 times since 1994.

A resident of Hubertus, Brunner and his wife, Kathie, have two children, Katie and Brian.