Sten Fjeldheim

Head Coach, Nordic Skiing and Assistant Cross Country
E-mail: sfjeldhe@nmu.edu
Telephone: 906-458-0459
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 65 NCAA All-Americans, four 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. Former team members Lindsey Weier (2003-07), Lindsay Williams (2003-07), Abigail Larson (1997-00) and Chris Cook (1999-03) were on the team. Fjeldheim was named the Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) Women's Coach of the Year for the 2008-09 season. 

At the 2007 NCAA Skiing Championships, history was made as Morgan Smyth, Lindsay Williams and Lindsey Weier swept the podium in both events.  Williams was first in the 5K freestyle and second in the 15K classic.  Weier won the 15K classic and was third in the freestyle race.  Smyth was second in the freestyle and third in the classic races.  

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 and Kirsten are on the NMU cross country and ski teams.