GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Green Bay Athletics has announced the hiring of former Phoenix skier Ken Statz as the new head coach of the school's Nordic skiing program. Statz was a student-athlete at Green Bay from 2001-06, competing during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.

"I am honored to be the next head coach of the program that I am so proud to have been a part of," Statz said. "I am looking forward to continuing the success of the program and getting people enthused about the sport of Nordic skiing."

In December of 2006 Statz graduated from UW-Green Bay with a degree in environmental policy and planning and minors in environmental science and geography. He went on to earn an associate degree as a renewable energy specialist from Mid State Technical College and also began his master's in natural resources at UW-Stevens Point. Statz currently owns and operates a renewable energy company, Statz Industries, which focuses on solar installations.

Statz enjoys being involved with the community, volunteering and participating in outdoor recreational activities. He has served as a trail system designer and maintainer, zamboni driver, a member of the Granite Peak Ski Patrol and as a cross country skiing coach at the high school and junior high school levels.

Statz replaces the late Butch Reimer as head coach, who passed away after a battle with leukemia last October. Reimer built the Green Bay ski program into one of national prominence, coaching 33 men's and women's skiers to the NCAA Championships in his 13 seasons with the team. On April 29, Reimer was recognized as the lone member of the 2011 Phoenix Hall of Fame class and was honored with an induction ceremony at The Marq in DePere.