Head Coach - Ian Beckley

Ian Beckley is a UW Atmospheric Sciences grad student and the current head coach of the Wisconsin Sailing Team. Ian came to us from Hobart College where he received his BS in Geoscience with a minor in math. While there, Ian also served as Team Captain for HWS’s nationally ranked sailing team. Outside of college sailing, Ian is an overall winner of both the Chicago to Mackinac Race and Chicago NOOD regattas, among a myriad of other keelboat regattas. His coaching philosophy is focused not only on getting the Wisconsin Sailing Team to the highest level, but also ensuring that all members are leaving Madison with tools and skills to engage in sailboat racing for a lifetime.


Advisor - Gretchen Ladd


67565130_10114090625555370_6751458937410682880_o.jpg

Advisor - David Elsmo

As a Wisconsin native, Dave has spent his life on and around sailboats. After starting his US Sailing coaching career at 15 he went on to earn his degree in Commercial Recreation Management at the University of Minnesota while continuing to work as the Assistant Director at a local sailing school. After moving back to Wisconsin he began working for the Hoofer Sailing Club as our coach and Head of Instruction. He now advises the team he used to coach, working to promote our interests within the university and within college sailing. When not at work Dave loves to spend time racing sailboats, doing woodwork, camping, hunting, fishing, and spending as much time as is possible in the outdoors with his wife and dogs.