Warhawk running back's success starts with running back's coach Nelson Edmonds

(In the adjacent photo – Lance Leipold and running backs coach Nelson Edmonds greet Levell Coppage as he comes off the field after breaking the school and WIAC career rushing record of fellow Warhawk Justin Beaver in Saturday’s 31-16 win over UW-Stevens Point – photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

The names of Levell Coppage, Justin Beaver and Chad Wurth have been permanently ingrained in the minds of UW-Whitewater football fans over the past decade.

The reason is simple! How about 17,661 rushing yards and 177 touchdowns combined?

While the players accomplished the incredible statistics on the field – the one constant over the years has been the work of running backs coach Nelson Edmonds.

The Madison native is now in his 17th year on the UWW coaching staff. The success of his running back corps is nothing new.

While the focus has been on Levell Coppage’s rushing exploits over the past four years a further look at UW-Whitewater’s rushing game over the past decade has been nothing less than mindblowing.

John Damato, Eddie McKennie, Jeff McKenzie, Colon Burns, followed by Wurth, Beaver and Coppage have combined to rush for 1000 yards-plus every year with the exception of 1999.

The one constant each year has been the work Coach Edmonds has done in molding his running backs into approaching the position the “Warhawk way.” The result speaks for itself.