Colorado University Athletics
Bruce Cranmer (left) with Mads Stroem, Eliska (Hajkova) Albrigtsen and Jana Weinberger. All three are coaching in the RMISA and won individual NCAA Championships under Cranmer.
Cranmer's Legacy Evident As Buffs Head To NCAAs
March 04, 2019 | Skiing
STOWE, Vt. — For the first time in 30 years, Bruce Cranmer will not have an official role at the NCAA Ski Championships.
But Cranmer's legacy will no doubt be felt. The man who helped Colorado and Vermont to eight NCAA titles as those programs' Nordic coach, the man who planted the seed for other coaches to go on and leave their own stamp on the championships, has arguably had as big of an impact as any assistant coach in NCAA history — in any sport.
Cranmer, who won two NCAA titles as an alpine racer at Colorado in the 1970s under legendary coach Bill Marolt, retired after last season, his 18th at Colorado. During his time as the Buffs' Nordic coach, Colorado won four NCAA titles, and his Nordic teams were the highest-scoring group seven times. Cranmer also helped Vermont to four NCAA titles as the Nordic coach for the Catamounts prior to coming to Colorado.
Those eight NCAA championships obviously produced plenty of individual honors. At Vermont, his skiers won 12 individual NCAA championships. At Colorado, his athletes won 18 NCAA championships, including four who swept NCAA titles.
"For me, Bruce was instrumental in my development as a skier and convincing me that CU and combining education with skiing was not only a great opportunity but a place to become a better skier," said former Buff Mads Stroem, who won three NCAA titles under Cranmer's guidance and his now an assistant Nordic coach for the University of Denver. "After spending four years in Boulder, I developed and achieved results no others have done, which he was a great part of. Â He was always honest with me and a great guy with a lot of stories from his career."
But as impressive as Cranmer's achievements were in the coaching world, they are only part of his legacy. While Cranmer won't be coaching at this year's NCAA Championships at Vermont — where he got his coaching start — a long list of his former athletes will be applying what they learned from him in their current roles as coaches.
That list, which includes current Denver Nordic coach Dave Stewart and former DU assistants Knut Nystand and Trond Nystand, as well as current CU Nordic coach Jana Weinberger, have been part of 10 NCAA championship teams.
Added up, the numbers are mind-boggling.
In the last 30 years, teams on which Cranmer or one of his former skiers served as an assistant have won 18 NCAA team championships. Meanwhile, teams for which Cranmer was coaching in that time period finished first or second 19 times in the NCAA Championships.
Another way to figure it: only once in the last 30 years did one of the top two teams in the NCAA championships not have Cranmer or one of his former athletes coaching the team.
"Bruce has been by far the most successful NCAA skiing coach over the past 30 years, alpine or nordic, regularly fielding the top team at NCAAs and coaching more NCAA individual champions than I would like to remember," DU's Stewart said. "I think a key to Bruce's coaching success is that he accepted and respected his athletes for who they were and saw his role as supporting them and their goals. The track record he has of athletes who have thrived under him is impressive."
Weinberger, who won an NCAA title under Cranmer's guidance, took over the CU Nordic reins this year after Cranmer stepped down. She has incorporated many of his coaching techniques into her approach, while adding some of her own.
"What I learned from him is you have to enjoy the sport and the active lifestyle," Weinberger said. "It is about results, but that's not the most important thing.  It's the love of the sport that keeps us doing what we do, and he had that. His passion for skiing … he taught that to all of us."
Colorado head coach Richard Rokos, the owner of eight NCAA titles (tied for the most in CU history with cross country coach Mark Wetmore), lured Cranmer from Vermont to Colorado in 2000. When Cranmer decided to retire after last season, Rokos didn't hesitate to promote one of his disciples — Weinberger — into the role as the lead Nordic coach.
"He established many strong regimens in the ski world and maintained it for many years," Rokos said. "Bruce did something he believed in. Â His had a modest approach, he had a great expertise on waxing. Between CU and UVM, he has 30 years of college experience. After landing in Colorado, he did a great job for us."
Cranmer's dedication to collegiate skiing was formed during his years as a downhill racer for the Buffs, when he helped CU win two of seven consecutive national championships under Marolt's guidance. Along with the competitive aspect, he had a strong belief in the educational opportunities the sport can offer.
"Bruce has set the bar for NCAA skiing," DU's Stewart said. "He also truly believed that college skiing, being a student-athlete, is a good thing and that it can provide a very positive experience for young people. Â He helped show what's possible for NCAA skiers to achieve."
At Colorado, Cranmer coached some of the most successful individuals in the Buffs' proud skiing history. Four of CU's seven all-time race victory leaders were coached by Cranmer, including all-time leader Maria Grevsgaard, who won 24 races in her career. He coached 30 athletes to 72 All-America honors, and had at least one first-team All-America honoree every year that he coached at Colorado.
Now, CU's current skiers are still benefiting from his expertise, while also learning under Weinberger.
"I think Jana learned a lot from Bruce, but she's doing her own things and has her own ideas," said Buff Christina Rolandsen. "She has her own twist on it, but she definitely learned a lot from having him here. Â People definitely know who Bruce is and his name means a lot. He's known for his commitment and enthusiasm, he's influenced a lot of people. Those who have interacted with him, understand what it meant for him. He really loved the sport and got to meet a lot of good people and influence them."
Â
But Cranmer's legacy will no doubt be felt. The man who helped Colorado and Vermont to eight NCAA titles as those programs' Nordic coach, the man who planted the seed for other coaches to go on and leave their own stamp on the championships, has arguably had as big of an impact as any assistant coach in NCAA history — in any sport.
Cranmer, who won two NCAA titles as an alpine racer at Colorado in the 1970s under legendary coach Bill Marolt, retired after last season, his 18th at Colorado. During his time as the Buffs' Nordic coach, Colorado won four NCAA titles, and his Nordic teams were the highest-scoring group seven times. Cranmer also helped Vermont to four NCAA titles as the Nordic coach for the Catamounts prior to coming to Colorado.
Those eight NCAA championships obviously produced plenty of individual honors. At Vermont, his skiers won 12 individual NCAA championships. At Colorado, his athletes won 18 NCAA championships, including four who swept NCAA titles.
"For me, Bruce was instrumental in my development as a skier and convincing me that CU and combining education with skiing was not only a great opportunity but a place to become a better skier," said former Buff Mads Stroem, who won three NCAA titles under Cranmer's guidance and his now an assistant Nordic coach for the University of Denver. "After spending four years in Boulder, I developed and achieved results no others have done, which he was a great part of. Â He was always honest with me and a great guy with a lot of stories from his career."
But as impressive as Cranmer's achievements were in the coaching world, they are only part of his legacy. While Cranmer won't be coaching at this year's NCAA Championships at Vermont — where he got his coaching start — a long list of his former athletes will be applying what they learned from him in their current roles as coaches.
That list, which includes current Denver Nordic coach Dave Stewart and former DU assistants Knut Nystand and Trond Nystand, as well as current CU Nordic coach Jana Weinberger, have been part of 10 NCAA championship teams.
Added up, the numbers are mind-boggling.
In the last 30 years, teams on which Cranmer or one of his former skiers served as an assistant have won 18 NCAA team championships. Meanwhile, teams for which Cranmer was coaching in that time period finished first or second 19 times in the NCAA Championships.
Another way to figure it: only once in the last 30 years did one of the top two teams in the NCAA championships not have Cranmer or one of his former athletes coaching the team.
"Bruce has been by far the most successful NCAA skiing coach over the past 30 years, alpine or nordic, regularly fielding the top team at NCAAs and coaching more NCAA individual champions than I would like to remember," DU's Stewart said. "I think a key to Bruce's coaching success is that he accepted and respected his athletes for who they were and saw his role as supporting them and their goals. The track record he has of athletes who have thrived under him is impressive."
Weinberger, who won an NCAA title under Cranmer's guidance, took over the CU Nordic reins this year after Cranmer stepped down. She has incorporated many of his coaching techniques into her approach, while adding some of her own.
"What I learned from him is you have to enjoy the sport and the active lifestyle," Weinberger said. "It is about results, but that's not the most important thing.  It's the love of the sport that keeps us doing what we do, and he had that. His passion for skiing … he taught that to all of us."
Colorado head coach Richard Rokos, the owner of eight NCAA titles (tied for the most in CU history with cross country coach Mark Wetmore), lured Cranmer from Vermont to Colorado in 2000. When Cranmer decided to retire after last season, Rokos didn't hesitate to promote one of his disciples — Weinberger — into the role as the lead Nordic coach.
"He established many strong regimens in the ski world and maintained it for many years," Rokos said. "Bruce did something he believed in. Â His had a modest approach, he had a great expertise on waxing. Between CU and UVM, he has 30 years of college experience. After landing in Colorado, he did a great job for us."
Cranmer's dedication to collegiate skiing was formed during his years as a downhill racer for the Buffs, when he helped CU win two of seven consecutive national championships under Marolt's guidance. Along with the competitive aspect, he had a strong belief in the educational opportunities the sport can offer.
"Bruce has set the bar for NCAA skiing," DU's Stewart said. "He also truly believed that college skiing, being a student-athlete, is a good thing and that it can provide a very positive experience for young people. Â He helped show what's possible for NCAA skiers to achieve."
At Colorado, Cranmer coached some of the most successful individuals in the Buffs' proud skiing history. Four of CU's seven all-time race victory leaders were coached by Cranmer, including all-time leader Maria Grevsgaard, who won 24 races in her career. He coached 30 athletes to 72 All-America honors, and had at least one first-team All-America honoree every year that he coached at Colorado.
Now, CU's current skiers are still benefiting from his expertise, while also learning under Weinberger.
"I think Jana learned a lot from Bruce, but she's doing her own things and has her own ideas," said Buff Christina Rolandsen. "She has her own twist on it, but she definitely learned a lot from having him here. Â People definitely know who Bruce is and his name means a lot. He's known for his commitment and enthusiasm, he's influenced a lot of people. Those who have interacted with him, understand what it meant for him. He really loved the sport and got to meet a lot of good people and influence them."
Â
Players Mentioned
NORDIC
/ Skiing
NORDIC
/ SkiingColorado Ski: Why CU?
Friday, June 27
Colorado Ski: 2025 Facility Tour
Tuesday, June 10
Colorado Ski: 2024-25 Banquet
Tuesday, April 22
2024 Ski Team Season Recap
Tuesday, April 30