University of Minnesota Athletics
Alumni Corner: Two-time NCAA Champion Tim Hartung
5/2/2019 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling, M Club
Former Gophers 197-pounder Tim Hartung, a three-time All-American and two-time national champion, checked-in with GopherSports to look back at his Gophers career and see where it has led him.
Hartung, seventh all-time for the Gophers with 133 victories and fourth all-time with 48 pins, finished his career with a pair of national championships at 197-pounds. Hartung still lives in Minnesota with his family and remains connected to the wrestling community.
Check it out!
GS: Since graduating from the University of Minnesota, what have you been up to?
I coached as a graduate assistant at Minnesota for five years (1999-2004) while still competing internationally. Then I coached for the University of Iowa for two seasons (2005-06) with Coach Jim Zalesky before I got hired at Iowa State with Cael Sanderson. I coached two years there and then retired from college coaching to raise my family that was just starting.
I did a medical device job with Stryker Endoscopy for six months and then started my teaching and coaching career at the scholastic level in 2010. I coached at Simley for one season (2009-10), taught and coached at Eagan for one season (2010-11), taught at Wayzata for six years and coached there for four years (2011-14). I started coaching for Stillwater at the Youth Level in 2014 then got a job teaching there in 2016 - and coaching as an assistant in 2016-18, and now the Head Coach this past season 2018-19. We were the Runner-Up team in AAA this past season.
GS: Where do you currently live and work?
We live in Lake Elmo, MN. I work at Stillwater Area Schools as a teacher at Oak-Land Middle School (Health, Physical Education, and Developmental Adapted Physical Education) and am still coaching (9th Grade football and Varsity Wrestling).
GS: What are your favorite memories of Gopher wrestling that you still look back on?
My number one memory is losing the National Title in 1999 by two points to Iowa. My career at Minnesota was magical - not only coming from the bottom of the barrel to winning three Big Ten Titles & two National Championships - but to lead the charge in the programs rise to fame - helping the Gophs place in the top-three for the first time in 1997, 2nd in 1998 and in 1999.
Another great memory is the training regimen that we followed - we trained hard and really pushed each other to new heights. There was a very motivated and focused approach around the program at all levels as we searched for our first NCAA Team Title. The amount of great talents and personalities that were recruited to wrestle here was phenomenal - it was such an awesome transformation to be part of.
J. Robinson was a wonderful captain that formulated a plan for having great coaches around with the RIGHT wrestlers to break through the quest in 2001, 2002, & 2007. Many programs make the rise towards the top - but never get there. I'm proud I was part of the movement - and I still feel vested today because of it.
GS: What was the feeling finishing your career with two consecutive NCAA Titles?
The feeling at the time was very awesome, but one thing you quickly find out is that reaching your goals is not the end all. The mind always moves on to what is next. So I always try to help my athletes understand that reaching your goal is not the special accomplishment - it is the journey, the approach, the struggles, the set-backs, and the progress that makes it so special and ultimately makes you who you are. Each stage of your life presents new goals and accomplishments - So my advice is to keep it all in perspective - very hard to do in each moment - but after the moment passes - it is easy to understand it was not Life or Death - and the mental stress and anxiety you put yourself through - that sometimes limits your success is pretty silly when you reflect back on it.
Opportunities to do great things come and go. You either seize the moment or you don't. Somebody has to win, so it might as well be you. Don't let your mind and your thoughts continue to rob you of success.
GS: What was head coach Brandon Eggum like as a teammate?
Coach Eggum is a great friend and teammate. He has literally given me the shirt off his back many times. Now he has also dropped me on my head and broken my ribs by slamming me on the mat because he is a very competitive guy. He has helped me more in my career and life than he probably knows. He brings a certain toughness to life and wrestling that most people don't. He grew up in a similar family situation as I did - work for everything you get - but he also dealt with loss and setbacks with dignity and resolve.
Coach Eggum lost his sister when he first got to college - something I respect him for because I truly believe I would have went home and never returned. He also never reached his goal in college but battled to reach the ultimate platform by taking a Silver Medal in 2001 at the World Championships in Bulgaria. He chose me to go with him as his training partner which was an awesome experience helping him achieve his goals and returning the countless hours of sacrifice and beatings I would give him during our college days.
I have asked him once a month since 2001 to get me a signed photo of him on the awards stand - thanking me for my service as his training partner - which he still has not done. Being a training partner is a lot like being a personal servant and my whole summer was spent doing his laundry and sleeping on dorm rooms and such.
GS: What lessons did you learn as a Gopher wrestler?
Anyone can Win - Why Not You? Stop finding all the reasons why NOT.
GS: How are you still involved with wrestling?
I have actively recruited ex-Gopher Wrestlers into the Stillwater Area. We're building a Gopher commune of sorts out here on the East-Side/ I live in the same community with Coach Eggum, Coach Becker, Jared & Brett Lawrence, Owen Elzen, Delaney Berger, Eddie Pak, Mike Flanagan, Doug Surgenor, etc. All these Ex-Gophers have boys - so watch out World in 4-10 years!
I'm still an active Member of Gopher Wrestling and currently the head Wrestling Coach of Stillwater Area High School with three Section 4AAA Titles in a row and 2019 AAA State Team Runner-Up.
Hartung, seventh all-time for the Gophers with 133 victories and fourth all-time with 48 pins, finished his career with a pair of national championships at 197-pounds. Hartung still lives in Minnesota with his family and remains connected to the wrestling community.
Check it out!
GS: Since graduating from the University of Minnesota, what have you been up to?
I coached as a graduate assistant at Minnesota for five years (1999-2004) while still competing internationally. Then I coached for the University of Iowa for two seasons (2005-06) with Coach Jim Zalesky before I got hired at Iowa State with Cael Sanderson. I coached two years there and then retired from college coaching to raise my family that was just starting.
I did a medical device job with Stryker Endoscopy for six months and then started my teaching and coaching career at the scholastic level in 2010. I coached at Simley for one season (2009-10), taught and coached at Eagan for one season (2010-11), taught at Wayzata for six years and coached there for four years (2011-14). I started coaching for Stillwater at the Youth Level in 2014 then got a job teaching there in 2016 - and coaching as an assistant in 2016-18, and now the Head Coach this past season 2018-19. We were the Runner-Up team in AAA this past season.
GS: Where do you currently live and work?
We live in Lake Elmo, MN. I work at Stillwater Area Schools as a teacher at Oak-Land Middle School (Health, Physical Education, and Developmental Adapted Physical Education) and am still coaching (9th Grade football and Varsity Wrestling).
GS: What are your favorite memories of Gopher wrestling that you still look back on?
My number one memory is losing the National Title in 1999 by two points to Iowa. My career at Minnesota was magical - not only coming from the bottom of the barrel to winning three Big Ten Titles & two National Championships - but to lead the charge in the programs rise to fame - helping the Gophs place in the top-three for the first time in 1997, 2nd in 1998 and in 1999.
Another great memory is the training regimen that we followed - we trained hard and really pushed each other to new heights. There was a very motivated and focused approach around the program at all levels as we searched for our first NCAA Team Title. The amount of great talents and personalities that were recruited to wrestle here was phenomenal - it was such an awesome transformation to be part of.
J. Robinson was a wonderful captain that formulated a plan for having great coaches around with the RIGHT wrestlers to break through the quest in 2001, 2002, & 2007. Many programs make the rise towards the top - but never get there. I'm proud I was part of the movement - and I still feel vested today because of it.
GS: What was the feeling finishing your career with two consecutive NCAA Titles?
The feeling at the time was very awesome, but one thing you quickly find out is that reaching your goals is not the end all. The mind always moves on to what is next. So I always try to help my athletes understand that reaching your goal is not the special accomplishment - it is the journey, the approach, the struggles, the set-backs, and the progress that makes it so special and ultimately makes you who you are. Each stage of your life presents new goals and accomplishments - So my advice is to keep it all in perspective - very hard to do in each moment - but after the moment passes - it is easy to understand it was not Life or Death - and the mental stress and anxiety you put yourself through - that sometimes limits your success is pretty silly when you reflect back on it.
Opportunities to do great things come and go. You either seize the moment or you don't. Somebody has to win, so it might as well be you. Don't let your mind and your thoughts continue to rob you of success.
GS: What was head coach Brandon Eggum like as a teammate?
Coach Eggum is a great friend and teammate. He has literally given me the shirt off his back many times. Now he has also dropped me on my head and broken my ribs by slamming me on the mat because he is a very competitive guy. He has helped me more in my career and life than he probably knows. He brings a certain toughness to life and wrestling that most people don't. He grew up in a similar family situation as I did - work for everything you get - but he also dealt with loss and setbacks with dignity and resolve.
Coach Eggum lost his sister when he first got to college - something I respect him for because I truly believe I would have went home and never returned. He also never reached his goal in college but battled to reach the ultimate platform by taking a Silver Medal in 2001 at the World Championships in Bulgaria. He chose me to go with him as his training partner which was an awesome experience helping him achieve his goals and returning the countless hours of sacrifice and beatings I would give him during our college days.
I have asked him once a month since 2001 to get me a signed photo of him on the awards stand - thanking me for my service as his training partner - which he still has not done. Being a training partner is a lot like being a personal servant and my whole summer was spent doing his laundry and sleeping on dorm rooms and such.
GS: What lessons did you learn as a Gopher wrestler?
Anyone can Win - Why Not You? Stop finding all the reasons why NOT.
- You get what you deserve
- Nothing is going to be handed to you
- If you want something bad enough go get it
- There are no excuses. Did you succeed or not? Why or why not?
- The journey is the prize. Cherish the journey because it makes the destination
GS: How are you still involved with wrestling?
I have actively recruited ex-Gopher Wrestlers into the Stillwater Area. We're building a Gopher commune of sorts out here on the East-Side/ I live in the same community with Coach Eggum, Coach Becker, Jared & Brett Lawrence, Owen Elzen, Delaney Berger, Eddie Pak, Mike Flanagan, Doug Surgenor, etc. All these Ex-Gophers have boys - so watch out World in 4-10 years!
I'm still an active Member of Gopher Wrestling and currently the head Wrestling Coach of Stillwater Area High School with three Section 4AAA Titles in a row and 2019 AAA State Team Runner-Up.
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