Erik Lundteigen was named the NMU Alpine Ski Head Coach ahead of the 2020-21 season, leading both the men's and women's programs, competing as varsity members of the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association. In his four season's with the Wildcats, Lundteigen earned USCSA Coach of the Year in 2025, produced a National Champion in Reagan Olli, guided his teams to multiple top-five finishes at the National Championships, has overseen a plethora of All-Americans, and have won the Regional Championships for four straight seasons.
2025 was a terrific season for Lunteigen and the Wildcats, as he was honored as the USCSA Coach of the Year. At this year's National Championships, the men finished third and the women finished 11th of 27 teams, while boasting a combined three First Team All-Americans, five Second Team All-Americans, and a pair of bronze medals. The men finished third as a team in both the giant slalom (GS) and slalom (SL) en route to finishing third overall as a team. The women had a tough day one, a stormy outing on the slopes that included multiple spills, to finish 22nd in the GS before rebounding for second place overall in the SL to finish 11th as a team. Both Aaron Grzelak and Reagan Olli earned bronze medals in their respective slalom events, and the team produced eight All-Americans, highlighted by Olli, Grzelak, and Kyan Hopke all earning first-team honors. At the 2025 Wildcat Awards, the men's alpine team was named Team of the Year for the entire department, and Hopke was named Male Newcomer of the Year. The 'Cats also won the Regional Championship for the fourth consecutive season under Lundteigen, including claiming all four gold medals and 11 of the 12 possible podium spots across two days of competition.
Lundteigen and the Wildcats continued to find success in 2024, where he saw the women's team finished second and the men's team finished fourth at the 2024 National Championship, including the oversight of Aaron Grzelak earning a bronze medal in the slalom, Reagan Olli earning a First Team All-America distinction in the slalom, and seven total All-America honors earned among both the teams. A powerhouse in the region, the Wildcats claimed nine of the possible 12 podium spots en route to the 2024 Regional Championship. The teams won both their respective slalom and giant slalom categories, and claimed three of a possible four individual gold medals.
The Alpine Ski team had great success on the slopes in the 2022-23 season, including both the men's and women's teams claiming gold at their respective regional championships, as well as producing a National Champion in Reagan Olli in the Women’s Slalom. Olli earned Wildcat Awards for Performance of the Year and MVP Female Athlete of the 2022-23 athletic season.
In 2021-22, the men placed fourth overall while the women skied into sixth at USCSA Nationals. The men and women each took first at the regional championships at Marquette Mountain. There were no team competitions in 2020-21 due to COVID.
Before coming to NMU, Lundteigen was the varsity ski team coach at Petoskey High School from 2013-20. During his tenure, he led Petoskey to six State Championships and was named the Coach of the Year four times.
Starting in 2006, he was the Alpine race coach for Boyne USA where he implemented youth programs and adult clinics. For five years, he was a U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) coach at the Junior Olympics.
In addition to his ski coaching duties, he has also served as a tennis professional at the Belvedere Club in Charlevoix since 1980.
He was a third grade teacher and coach at Charlevoix Public Schools from 1983-2010. In addition to teaching third grade for 26 years, he organized and developed programs for children and young adults and mentored elementary through high school students. He also managed regional and state ski meets. For 13 years, he served as the Charlevoix High School varsity ski team head coach. In 2008, he received the Heroes of Education Award.
Lundteigen received his bachelor's degree in business management from Michigan State University in 1982. He is a certified USSA coach as well as a certified referee, chief of course, and jury advisor.
