University of New Hampshire Athletics
Men's Skiing
- Title:
- Ski Coordinator / Head Coach- Nordic
- Email:
- corys@unh.edu
- Phone:
- 603-512-2317
Follow @unhskiing
The 2021-22 season represents Cory Schwartz's 40th year coaching the Nordic program and 35th year as the ski coordinator at UNH. During his tenure, Schwartz has led the Wildcats to 28 Top-10 NCAA placements, including ninth place most recently at the 2021 NCAA Championships, hosted by UNH.
Schwartz has mentored 41 student-athletes to a total of 56 All-America Team selections. Included in that number are 20 Nordic skiers compiling 15 All-America team honors.
On Oct. 3, 2015, Howie Bean ’78, Paul Berton, Byron “Buzz” Davis ’75, Nathaniel ’81 and Marianne Lucy ’83 and Josiah Miles ’87 collaborated to establish the Cory L. Schwartz ’82 Ski Team Endowment in honor of Schwartz.
In 2014, Schwartz was awarded the Profile of Service Award by the UNH Alumni Association for his outstanding performance on behalf of the Alumni Association or the University.
Schwartz was named Coach of the Year by the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) in 1985, ’86, 2002, ’03, and ’15.
UNH hosted the NCAAs in 2021 for the sixth time in program history. Will Bruneau-Bouchard of the alpine team earned All-American Second Team in slalom (8th place), and the Wildcats finished ninth overall.
In 2020, the ’Cats finished ninth in NCAAs at Montana State. The Championships were cut off following two days -midway through the scheduled four-day event-- at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center when the NCAA cancelled all remaining winter and spring championships due to the evolving COVID-19 public health threat.
In 2017, the Wildcats hosted the NCAAs for the fifth time in their history with Nordic competition at Jackson Ski Touring Center and alpine racing at Cannon Mountain. Senior Nordic skier Lizzie Gill earned All-American Second Team in both the women’s 5K classic and 15K freestyle to propel the ‘Cats to ninth place overall. On the alpine side, sophomore Geneviève Frigon earned All-American Second Team distinction in slalom.
The 2016 Wildcats placed 10th nationally with senior alpine skier Jay Ogle claiming All-American Second Team in giant slalom in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
In 2015, UNH took 11th place at NCAAs and boasted three All-Americans. Nordic senior co-captain Annika Taylor, freshman alpine skier Lisa Wedsjö and sophomore alpine skier Phil Rivet each secured All-America Second Team honors. Taylor was the EISA’s top-ranked Nordic skier and capped her illustrious season with a victory in the 15K classic at the EISA Championships.
In 2014, the Wildcats’ 14 members of the National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team represented the highest total among Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association members, which included Dartmouth College, Harvard University and the University of Vermont.
In 2013, senior Liz Guiney was the recipient of the NCAA Elite 89 award, which recognized her for reaching the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level while also achieving the highest academic standard among her peers.
He was awarded the Al Merrill Award by the State of New Hampshire in 1998. This award was established in memory of Al Merrill to recognize an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to cross country skiing in the state of New Hampshire.
The Wildcats registered back-to-back seventh place finishes (‘84 & ‘85) within Schwartz’s first three years at the University and eighth-place finishes in 2011 and 2013, matching the squad’s top placement since 1994. From 1989-96, Schwartz’s teams claimed eight consecutive Top-10 NCAA finishes, the most in school history.
During his collegiate career at UNH, Schwartz competed in the NCAA Championships three times before graduating in 1982. The Center Conway, N.H., native had his top performance during his junior season when he placed 10th in the NCAAs. He began coaching the men's squad in a post-graduate year and took over duties for the women’s team the following season.
He is Level II certified and has served as a member of both the Eastern USSA Sr. Committee and Chairman of the NCAA Committee.
