COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College Associate Director of Athletics Annie Martin '19 announced the hire of Kyle Steitz as Nordic skiing head coach on Wednesday, effective June 24. Steitz joins the Purple Knights after a stint as an assistant coach at 2026 national runner-up Colorado University.
 
"I'm thrilled to be the next head Nordic ski coach at Saint Michael's," said Steitz, who is U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) Cross Country Level 100 and SafeSport certified. "I'd like to thank the hiring committee for their trust and belief in me to lead this team. After an incredible year with CU, one of the top ski programs in the country, I'm excited to take what I learned there and incorporate it at SMC. My early interactions with the skiers on this team have been inspiring. They are a mature, gritty, and fun group of student-athletes. It's a great cultural fit for me - we're all ready to work hard, compete at a high level in the EISA circuit, and make some life-long memories along the way."
 
Steitz was a member of the coaching staff at Colorado this past school year, helping the Buffs take second among 22 schools at the NCAA National Collegiate Championship, which also featured two Nordic skiers - and three student-athletes overall - from Saint Michael's. Colorado trailed champion University of Utah by only 10.5 points, while Buff Nordic skiers earned seven All-America honors by claiming top-10 finishes in an event.
 
"Kyle brings experience coaching at both the collegiate and junior levels, a passion for developing student-athletes, and a genuine enthusiasm for the future of Saint Michael's Nordic skiing," said Martin. "Most importantly, we felt he was the right fit for our team and community."
 
Steitz started two athletic programs in his native Colorado to help broaden opportunities for local youths, among them the Poudre School District Nordic skiing team, which began in fall 2017. The only head coach during the first eight years of its existence, Steitz's legwork led to approval from the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) and Poudre School District Board of Education. The program saw its first individual state champion by 2024, and 43 student-athletes filled the roster by 2025, when 18 skiers competed at the state championship. Steitz, who was responsible for raising a $38,000 budget through fundraising, donations and grant writing, was named CHSAA Nordic Coach of the Year in both 2019 and 2024.
 
In 2021, Steitz founded the Fort Collins Endurance & Adventure Sports Team (FEAST), serving as program director and head coach. FEAST offered Northern Colorado high schoolers and college students opportunities to compete in such sports as Nordic skiing, mountain biking, triathlon, running, and open-water swimming. FEAST's year-round Nordic skiing club was affiliated with USSS, allowing athletes to qualify for national and international competitions. FEAST sent six skiers to Junior Nationals between 2025 and 2026. Under Steitz's leadership as the U20/U18 men's age group coach, Rocky Mountain Nordic produced two national champions: Will Bentley in the 7.5K classic interval (2025) and Landon Laverdiere in the classic sprint (2026). 
 
A native of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Steitz is the son of former U.S. Nordic Combined head coach Tom Steitz, who led the national team through four Olympics and five World Championships. Steitz skied competitively in high school and college before transferring to Colorado State University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 2012 with a bachelor of arts degree in communications and marketing.