La Crosse, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Head Softball Coach Chris Helixon has stepped down as the Eagles' head coach for a position with the UWL Academic Advising Center as a Pre-Health Advisor.  He starts his new position Monday, October 9. 

Helixon served as UWL's head coach for 18 seasons, leading the team to five appearances in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Tournament in the last 14 years, including the team's first trip in school history to the NCAA Division III Super Regional in 2019.  He went 12-7 as head coach in 2023, missing the final 24 games recovering from aortic valve replacement surgery. Assistant coach Caitlin Wnek finished 16-8 as interim head coach as UWL finished 28-15 overall and 9-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Eagles won the conference tournament title and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.  The 28 wins are tied for fifth in single-season school history.  UWL earned the 2023 WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award while Elise Weinzierl was voted the WIAC Pitcher of the Year. 

"I arrived on the UWL campus initially in 1993 fresh from the U.S. Army and have worked in the Athletics and ESS Departments for 20+ years," said Helixon.  "I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing coaches, professors, administrators, and, of course, student-athletes.  During my recovery from my recent heart surgery, I came to the realization that I couldn't muster the energy to be an effective head coach anymore.  It has become a more demanding job over time, and the student-athletes deserve more than I can currently give."
 

UWL finished 27-10 overall and 13-1 in the WIAC in 2022 under Helixon, securing its second (2010) regular-season league crown in school history.  The Eagles won 13 consecutive conference games and 14 overall in 2022, the second-longest winning streak in school history.  The Eagles advanced to the WIAC Championship game in 2022.  UWL earned the 2022 WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award while Jordyn McCormack was named the WIAC Position Player of the Year, Weinzierl the WIAC Pitcher of the Year and Kyra Lard the WIAC Newcomer of the Year.

UWL went 29-20 overall and captured the WIAC championship in 2019, securing the league's automatic bid to the national tournament.  After dropping its first game in the league tournament, the Eagles won five straight contests, including a pair of victories over UW-Eau Claire, to win their third (2009, 2010, 2019) conference championship in school history.  Winning the 2019 NCAA Division III Pella, Iowa Regional with a 3-1 record, UWL was one of 16 teams to advance to the NCAA Division III Super Regionals.  The Eagles dropped a pair of games at third-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.) in the Super Regional to finish with a 3-3 record in the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles' 29 wins in 2019 ranks fourth in single-season school history as UWL earned the WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award.

"I am very grateful to Chris for all he has done for the softball program," said UWL Director of Athletics Kim Blum.  "I have always known him to be dedicated to the softball student-athletes and concerned about developing players in all aspects of their lives.  Chris always advocates for the student-athlete and the softball program, but also is able to see the larger departmental perspective.  I will miss Chris's contributions to UWL Athletics.  After working with Chris for his entire 19-year career, it will be hard to not have him be a part of UWL Athletics anymore, but we all wish him the best as he starts a new chapter."

The Eagles won at least 20 games and recorded a winning season in 14 of the last 16 years under Helixon.  UWL finished 30-16 overall and 10-4 in the WIAC in 2017 and hosted an NCAA Division III Regional for the first in school history, going 2-2.  The 30 victories are third-most in single-season school history.

Making its first trip to the national tournament since 1986, Helixon led UWL to a 34-12 record in 2009 as the team went 12-4 in league play and won its first conference tournament crown with a 2-0 victory over UW-Superior. The 34 victories are second-most in school history. 

In 2010, UWL won a school record 38 contests, finishing 38-9 overall and capturing its first regular-season league title in school history with a 16-0 mark. The Eagles won their second consecutive conference tournament crown after a 2-0 win over UW-Whitewater. For his efforts, Helixon was named the 2010 WIAC Coach of the Year.

The Eagles have had 50 players named to the All-WIAC First Team under Helixon, including at least two in 13 of the last 14 seasons.  

Helixon has compiled a 404-260 (.608) overall record in his 18 seasons at UWL, ranking first in school history and fourth in the WIAC in career victories.  Helixon picked up his 400th career victory at UWL with a 9-1 win over Dickinson College (Pa.) on March 17, 2023. He earned his 300th career win in the Eagles' 9-2 victory over UW-Stout on May 6, 2017 and his 200th victory with a 10-2 win over Marian University (Wis.) on March 17, 2014.

"I am looking forward to serving UWL students as an academic advisor and continuing to support all UWL athletics teams," said Helixon. "As an Eagle... Above All." 

Helixon served as head softball coach at Viterbo University (Wis.) from 1998-2001 and was named the 2001 Midwest Classic Conference Coach of the Year.  He compiled a 52-94-1 record at Viterbo (Wis.).  He is 456-354-1 (.563) in his collegiate career, earning his 300th overall victory in UWL's 14-1 win over Martin Luther College (Minn.) February 28, 2016. Helixon earned his 400th career win in UWL's 5-0 victory over Lake Forest College (Ill.) May 12, 2019 in the NCAA Division III Pella, Iowa Regional.  

Earning a bachelor's degree in leadership psychology from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1990, Helixon was a three-year starter in the outfield for the Black Knights.  He was awarded All-Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League Second-Team honors.

Helixon earned his master's degree in sports administration from UWL in 1995 after a two-year graduate assistantship with the Eagles' athletic department.  He served as the assistant to the interim athletics director for the Eagles in 1998. Helixon worked as an operations intern with the St. Paul Slam Professional Basketball Team in 1996-97 and as an operations/facilities intern with the University of Kentucky Athletics Association in 1995-96.  He has played on numerous fast pitch softball teams - most notably the Menomonie Blues and Colorado Springs Blues.

Helixon, his wife Tracy, and children Isaac, Michael, and Ellie reside in Onalaska.

Chris Helixon
Year-by-Year at UW-La Crosse
Year                Overall          WIAC 
2023               12-7               0-0
2022               27-10             13-1
2021               14-14             8-6
2020               2-2                 0-0
2019               29-20             8-6
2018               18-18             5-9
2017               30-16             10-4
2016               26-14             10-4
2015               27-14             11-5
2014               25-13             9-7
2013               21-14             8-8
2012               20-15             5-11
2011               28-16             11-5
2010               38-9               16-0
2009               34-12             12-4
2008               22-19             8-8
2007               12-26             4-12
2006               19-21             7-9
18 Years         404-260         145-99