Sten Fjeldheim

Head Coach, Nordic Skiing and Assistant Cross Country
E-mail: sfjeldhe@nmu.edu
Telephone: 906-227-2049
At NMU Since 1986

Sten Fjeldheim first began coaching at NMU in 1986. He serves as the head coach of the Wildcat women’s and men’s Nordic ski teams and an assistant to the women's cross country team.

Fjeldheim served as Nordic ski coach from 1986-94. From 1994-97 Fjeldheim served as an assistant national team coach/junior development coordinator for the United States Ski Team. During Fjeldheim’s time with the U.S. Team, he coached at the 1994 Olympics, 1995 World Championships, 1997 World Championships and several junior world championships. In 1997, he returned to the Wildcat Athletics staff.

In Fjeldheim’s time at NMU, he has coached the NMU women’s cross country running team to six appearances in the NCAA II National Championships. The team finished eighth, sixth, fourth, seventh and seventh, respectively, at the NCAA II Championships in 2000 through 2004. Under Fjeldheim’s leadership the NMU cross country running program has produced 10 NCAA All-America runners, won two GLIAC Conference Championships and one Great Lakes Regional Championship.

The men’s and women’s ski teams have competed in the NCAA Skiing Championships every season since 1986. The NMU ski teams have produced 40 NCAA All-Americans, three NCAA National Champions and 10 Olympians. The NMU Ski Team has also had many junior world team members as well as current U.S. ski team members.  Four skiers with NMU ties were on the 2006 United States Olympic Team. Current team members Lindsey Weier and Lindsay Williams along with former skiers Abigail Larson (1997-00) and Chris Cook (1999-03) were on the team.

A native of Haugesund, Norway, Fjeldheim came to the United States in 1961 and received his U.S. citizenship in 1975. He graduated from NMU in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and in 1992 he earned his master’s degree in exercise science.

Fjeldheim resides in Marquette with his wife, Pamela, and three children: Ingrid, Kirsten and Stig. Ingrid is a freshman on the NMU cross country and ski teams.