DENVER – The University of Denver Division of Athletics and Recreation has hired Toni Roponen as its new Nordic head coach, Vice Chancellor of Athletics, Recreation and Ritchie Center Operations Karlton Creech announced on Tuesday. In addition, Denver has named Rogan Brown the Nordic program's assistant coach to complete the staff ahead of the 2020 season.
 
Over the last 19 years, Roponen has been the personal coach for Matti Heikkinen and Riitta-Liisa Roponen, two members of the Finnish National Team that have combined for 10 medals at the World Championships and Olympic Games. Roponen has also served as a skiing analyst for the last eight years for Eurosport and other television outlets.
 
From 2002-05, Roponen was the head coach of the Finnish Biathlon team after spending three years as the country's cross-country youth national team and B-National team coach. Roponen's previous experience in North America includes his time as the head coach of the Thunder Bay Training Center, a member of the Canadian Skiing Federation.
 
"I am really excited about the opportunity to start working as the Head Nordic Coach at the University of Denver," Roponen said. "I have heard only good things about the University programs and the sports culture of the whole area. I am really looking forward to working with the student-athletes and other coaches as we pursue success."
 
A former professional Nordic ski racer, Brown joins the staff as an assistant coach after spending the last 13 months in Bozeman, Montana, working both as a head coach of the elite and postgraduate Nordic team with the Bridger Ski Foundation, and spending his summers as a bike mechanic for Summit Bike & Ski.
 
Prior to Brown's time in Bozeman, the former Vermont skier was in Sun Valley, Idaho, racing professionally for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Nordic Gold Team. During his three-plus seasons in Idaho, Brown finished fourth at the U.S. Nationals/Olympic Trials in 2018. Brown also helped organize and provide support with community fundraising activities for the foundation.
 
"I am thrilled to join the University of Denver Pioneers as the assistant Nordic coach," Brown said. "Having been a student athlete myself, I have experienced firsthand the opportunities college skiing provides to athletes. I am looking forward to supporting the next generation of student athletes in the pursuit of their goals in and outside the sport. I'm especially excited to be back in my home state of Colorado to continue to foster DU's impressive skiing legacy.  
 
At Vermont, Brown was part of the top Nordic team in the country in 2012 before later becoming an All-American in his final year of eligibility in 2015. Brown was a team captain in his final two years and was named to the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Team in his final three years with the Catamounts.
 
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