Photo by: University of Denver Athletics
Tyler Hippchen Named Nordic Skiing Assistant Coach
8/14/2026 1:00:00 PM | Skiing
Joins the Pioneers staff after four years as a student-athlete at Western Colorado
DENVER – University of Denver skiing announced today that Tyler Hippchen has been named the Pioneers' Nordic Assistant Coach.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Tyler Hippchen to our Denver skiing family," said DU Nordic Head Coach Eliska Albrigtsen. "Tyler had a tremendous collegiate career at Western Colorado, connecting Nordic skiing with its science. With his passion for coaching through discovery and technology, he will easily connect with our student-athletes as a recent graduate. We are excited to have him join our staff as we continue our climb back to the top of the championship podium."
Hippchen joins the Pioneers after spending four seasons as a student-athlete on the Western Colorado University Nordic Ski Team in Gunnison. In this role, Hippchen will help Albrigtsen in the daily logistical side of race and training preparation as well as assist with the waxing needs of Denver's student-athletes.
"I'm so excited to be working with Eliska and all of the incredibly talented student-athletes on the Nordic ski team," Hippchen said. "It is an honor to be a part of a program with such a great history of success, and I look forward to what we can achieve together. With Eliska and I both having sports science background, I believe we can maximize our athletes' potential with training theory and technique."
As a skier with Western Colorado, Hippchen earned eight USCSA All-American honors, including two first-team awards. He helped the Mountaineers win the 2026 USCSA team national championship in the Nordic 7.5K classic and the overall team national title in 2023.
The Soldotna, Alaska, native competed at the U.S. Cross Country National Championships all four years at WCU (2023-2026) and represented the United States internationally at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Pragelato, Italy.
Hippchen graduated from WCU this past spring with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science and a minor in music. He served as a coaching intern under WCU Nordic ski head coach Spencer WareJoncas in addition to being a student-athlete during his senior season in 2025-26.
Throughout his time at WCU, Hippchen was also a member of the trail running team and served as a student assistant for WCU Mountain Sports program.
DONATE: Fans interested in donating to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
"I'm thrilled to welcome Tyler Hippchen to our Denver skiing family," said DU Nordic Head Coach Eliska Albrigtsen. "Tyler had a tremendous collegiate career at Western Colorado, connecting Nordic skiing with its science. With his passion for coaching through discovery and technology, he will easily connect with our student-athletes as a recent graduate. We are excited to have him join our staff as we continue our climb back to the top of the championship podium."
Hippchen joins the Pioneers after spending four seasons as a student-athlete on the Western Colorado University Nordic Ski Team in Gunnison. In this role, Hippchen will help Albrigtsen in the daily logistical side of race and training preparation as well as assist with the waxing needs of Denver's student-athletes.
"I'm so excited to be working with Eliska and all of the incredibly talented student-athletes on the Nordic ski team," Hippchen said. "It is an honor to be a part of a program with such a great history of success, and I look forward to what we can achieve together. With Eliska and I both having sports science background, I believe we can maximize our athletes' potential with training theory and technique."
As a skier with Western Colorado, Hippchen earned eight USCSA All-American honors, including two first-team awards. He helped the Mountaineers win the 2026 USCSA team national championship in the Nordic 7.5K classic and the overall team national title in 2023.
The Soldotna, Alaska, native competed at the U.S. Cross Country National Championships all four years at WCU (2023-2026) and represented the United States internationally at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Pragelato, Italy.
Hippchen graduated from WCU this past spring with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science and a minor in music. He served as a coaching intern under WCU Nordic ski head coach Spencer WareJoncas in addition to being a student-athlete during his senior season in 2025-26.
Throughout his time at WCU, Hippchen was also a member of the trail running team and served as a student assistant for WCU Mountain Sports program.
DONATE: Fans interested in donating to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
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Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Skiing on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Skiing on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Skiing on Instagram
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