Eric Houck wrapped up first season as the assistant Nordic coach for the University of Denver ski team in 2024-25 after being named to the position on Sept. 16, 2024.
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In his first campaign in 2025, he helped men’s senior Andreas Kirkeng win five races and women’s graduate student Lea Wenaas pick up her first career individual victory in the 10K freestyle pursuit at the Denver Invitational. As a team, the Pioneers won the Nordic-only Alaska Fairbanks Invitational and claimed the overall Nordic and men’s Nordic RMISA regular-season championships.
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His role with Denver includes helping Nordic head coach Rogan Brown in the daily logistical side of race and training preparation as well as assisting the waxing needs of the Pioneer student-athletes.
Houck joined the Pioneers after spending three seasons at Michigan Technological University as a graduate assistant coach from 2019-2022. A graduate of MTU, Houck played a key role in the Huskies' success as he coached All-American athletes for the NCAA Championships and qualified skiers to the FIS U23 World Ski Championships. Among his duties were planning training sessions, analyzing ski techniques and providing race and waxing support.
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In addition to his time at Michigan Tech, Houck waxed for Team USA at the 2023 World University Games in Lake Placid, New York, helping the Americans bring home five medals. He was also the head wax tech for the U.S. that season at the IBU Cup Finals (biathlon) in Canmore, Alberta.
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The Syracuse, New York, native spent three seasons on the Michigan Tech Nordic Ski Team before turning to coaching. He earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2020 and his master's degree in mechatronics in 2022 from MTU.
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In addition to his skiing experience, Houck worked as a mechanical design engineer for ASML from 2022-2024.
