Whitewater, Wisc. – July 26, 2017 – Bob Lanza, a member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Intercollegiate Athletics staff for 32 years, will retire from his position of Associate Athletic Director for Finance/Business Operations effective Friday, August 4.
Lanza, who served as the department’s business manager starting in 1985, was responsible for budgets, purchasing, travel and game administration. He oversaw the budgets for all 20 Warhawk sports and all other divisions of intercollegiate athletics and was an integral member of the athletics administrative team.
Lanza served as interim athletic director in the summer of 2005 and was promoted to associate athletic director in July 2006. He received the UW-Whitewater Academic Staff Excellence for Non-Instructional Staff award for outstanding performance by a member of the non-instructional academic staff in 2014 and was recognized with the 30-Year Service Award in 2015.
A resident of Fort Atkinson, Lanza and his wife, Linda, have three daughters – Amy, Courtney and Meghan.
UW-Whitewater Athletics will host a celebration of Lanza’s career on a date to be determined. Check back soon for details.
What they’re saying about Bob Lanza:
“Bob has always been one of the friendliest people in the athletics office. In addition to all of my interactions with him in the business office, he was the manager of the Friday night 30-and-over softball team that represented UW-Whitewater’s coaches and staff during the summer months. He became one of my closest friends here at UW-Whitewater. His kindness, flexibility and dedication to Warhawk Athletics is like no other. I am grateful for the memories with Bob.” – Frank Barnes, Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach
“Bob is Mr. Warhawk, period. Whatever he was asked to do, he always stepped up and accepted the challenge. During his years of service, he wore many hats. He was a great asset to me when I served as football coach. His dedication, persistence and loyalty to UW-Whitewater were tremendous. Without his help, I could not have survived as a coach. After my retirement, Bob and I were roommates on our trips to Salem for the national championship games. We had some great times.” – Bob Berezowitz, former Head Football Coach (1985-2006)
“Bob Lanza has been incredible to work with during my time at UW-Whitewater over the past 12 years. He is caring, sincere and always willing to help with whatever is needed. He has dedicated himself to UW-Whitewater and its coaches and student-athletes. He has been a great friend and role model. My favorite Bob Lanza memory has to be the Costa Rica trip he took with our volleyball and women’s soccer teams (in 2016). His raft took an unpleasant flip on the river during whitewater rafting and we nearly lost him! Thank goodness for that rock he grasped onto! There are so many fond memories and great times with Bob. I’d like to thank him for sincerely caring for those who he works with and for always going the extra mile. I will miss seeing him all the time. I’d like to congratulate him on his retirement. He is a Warhawk great!” – Stacy Boudreau, Head Volleyball Coach
“I have had the pleasure of working with Bob for the past seven years. He has such a passion for and dedication to Warhawk Athletics and is always willing to do whatever is necessary to give our student-athletes a great experience. A replacement will be hired, but the intangibles Bob has provided our department from his 32 years of experience will never be replicated.” – Kay Bradley, Intercollegiate Athletics Administrative Assistant
“Bob Lanza‘s commitment to UW-Whitewater Athletics is second to none. He can take great ownership in the successes of UW-Whitewater Athletics over his 32 years of service.” – Kevin Bullis, Head Football Coach
“Bob is the true meaning of what it means to be a Warhawk – loyal, hard-working, passionate, dedicated and a true champion. He worked with a high level of integrity and always wanted to do what was best for the student-athletes. He will be missed.” – Keri Carollo, Assistant AD for Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator/Head Women’s Basketball Coach
“Bob is going to be dearly missed. He is a genuine individual to talk with. He was always able to help with any questions that were asked. I remember the time he traveled with football down to Washington University in St. Louis and it was pouring out. You couldn’t even see the other side of the field at times. At the end of the game, Bob walked along the sidelines, heading back into the building with his yellow rain jacket on. He looked over and, nonchalantly and sarcastically said, ‘I don’t think the hard stuff has hit us yet!’ That was several years ago and I can remember the day like it was yesterday.” – Courtney Halvensleben, Assistant Athletic Trainer
“Bob and I started together at UW-Whitewater in 1985 and we have had a lot of laughs and great memories over the years. We started working in the older facilities at the Williams Center and have been a part of some enormous growth and development in athletics/recreation facilities over the past two decades. Many of these facilities have been dedicated to coaches and friends that we have worked directly with together. I’ll never forget those connections. We have also been a part of experiencing nearly every national championship that UW-Whitewater has won, and that is something I will always remember with Bob. He has been a great colleague and friend, and I’m glad that I have had the opportunity to work with him and share the joys of raising our families over the years. He will be dearly missed.” – Gary Harms, Director of Recreation Sports and Facilities
“I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Bob for the past 19 years. His dedication and loyalty to the institution have been inspiring, and I aspire to emulate those qualities. I will miss his leadership and easy-going personality.” – Steve Hillmer, Director of Sports Medicine
“When I came to UW-Whitewater three years ago, Bob was one of the first to welcome me to the Warhawk Family and to offer any help he could in my transition to the institution. He is one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I’ve ever called a colleague in my 10 years of working professionally in college athletics. I am lucky to have crossed paths with Bob during my career and have cherished our time working together.” – Chris Lindeke, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
“Bob and I go back to 1985, so we have worked together all 32 years here at UW-Whitewater. We have raised our families together, bringing them to many Warhawk activities along with the Harms family back when we were the new kids on the block. Now, 30-plus years later, we are ‘old guys’ getting ready to retire. Anyone who has worked with Bob comes away with a good feeling and the sense that he really cares and will do the best he can to help in whatever way possible. As a representative of our university and athletic program over the past 32 years, we could not have had a better person in his position. Bob is a fun guy to work with and to be around. It’s hard to meet people like Bob, so when you do, you feel fortunate to call him your friend. A great family man, Bob sets a fantastic example on how to do a great job at work while still maintaining the same balance at home. Bob’s only flaw is that he is still a Browns fan.” – Jeff Miller, Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach
“Bob has been an administrative staple in my 25 years at UW-Whitewater. He has been one of the most loyal and supportive people I’ve ever been around. His talents, patience and easy-going personality will be greatly missed.” – Pat Miller, Head Men’s Basketball Coach
“Bob Lanza‘s dedication to UW-Whitewater is second to none. In my 12-plus years at UW-Whitewater, I have never seen anyone go the extra mile like Bob has. He is a true role model of what it takes to be a Warhawk. More importantly, he has been and is a tremendous friend and colleague. I am a better person for knowing and working with Bob.” – Lee Munger, Director of Sports Performance
“Bob was one of the first members to embrace me as part of the Warhawk Athletics family during a trip to the Stagg Bowl. Coming in as a faculty member, Bob never made me feel like an outsider to the organization. I have enjoyed learning from and with Bob and look forward to continuing to see him at athletics events. He truly bleeds purple.” – Kristina Navarro, Associate AD/Associate Professor, Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Coaching
“Bob’s dedication and passion for Warhawk Athletics will be greatly missed. He truly bleeds purple and it shows in his daily interaction with all the coaches, administrators and student-athletes at UW-Whitewater. Bob rarely misses any home athletic events and is always the first to congratulate after a win and the first to comfort the team after a tough result. For the 10 years I’ve had the privilege of calling Bob a colleague, he approached each day with the same high level of enthusiasm, passion and pride for UW-Whitewater and Warhawk Athletics. I’m proud to have had the privilege to not only work with Bob but learn from him and his experiences. I wish Bob nothing but the best in his future endeavors.” – Ryan Quamme, Head Women’s Soccer Coach
“I will always remember Bob for saying, ‘more important than winning national championships is making sure you have the proper receipts!'” – John Vodenlich, Head Baseball Coach
“I have truly enjoyed working with Bob for the last 19 years. He always took time out of his day to ask me how things were going or to talk about our season. Bob is one of the biggest fans of UW-Whitewater Athletics and I appreciate all of his support at our softball games over the years. I want to thank Bob for his endless time and commitment to UW-Whitewater Athletics and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement. He will be greatly missed.” – Brenda Volk, Head Softball Coach
“Bob welcomed me and was always willing to help. He explained things in a thoughtful manner, always with a smile and, occasionally, with some humor. I still have a lot to learn about the UW System and UW-Whitewater Foundation, and Bob’s leadership in that area will be greatly missed.” – Andrea Wieland, Head Golf Coach
Press Release courtesy of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletic Communications