Completed Event: Skiing versus 20K Freestyle (M) on March 8, 2025 , , 1st
Final Score
Skiing
1st
vs 20K Freestyle (M)
Skiing
Niess, Pierre
Pierre Niess
- Title:
- Head Nordic Coach
- Email:
- Pierre.niess@utah.edu
Head Nordic coach Pierre Niess, a native of Strasbourg, France, joined the Utah Ski Team in Summer 2024. He came to Salt Lake City after eight years as the program director and head coach for the Plain Valley Nordic Team in Washington.
Niess made an immediate impact with the Utes, winning RMISA Nordic Coach of the Year in 2025 as Utah took home the NCAA Championship, RMISA regular season championship and regional title. Utah had a pair of individual national champions in Erica Lavén (women’s 7.5K classic) and Joe Davies (men’s 20K freestyle) as the Utes racked up 10 Nordic All-American awards.
Lavén swept both of the RMISA MVP awards in women’s classic and freestyle, putting together a dominant freshman season with podiums in all 13 of her starts to go with eight victories—capped off by an individual national crown.
During the RMISA regular season, Niess’ group tallied 1,695 points and had seven All-RMISA selections. It was a testament to the talented depth among the team; although the point total placed the team second in the RMISA Nordic standings (by a mere 3.5 points), it was impressive considering that six athletes missed portions of the college season to take advantage of opportunities with the World Cup, World Championships and both the U23 and Junior World Championships.
Prior to Utah, Niess spearheaded the Plain Valley Nordic Team from its founding in 2016 through 2024. Under his leadership, the program led daily training from athletes ranging from ages 8-18. PVNT's racing lineup included the United States Junior and Senior National Championships, leading to a top-15 junior club ranking in three straight seasons. It all took place while the program developed and managed its own ski trail system, grooming and fundraising.
Niess was named the Pacific Northwest Ski Association Coach of the Year in 2021 and '22.
Raised in France where he enjoyed a successful national racing career, Niess went on to ski collegiately at New Mexico from 2010-12. At that point, he was mentored by current Utah director of skiing Fredrik Landstedt. He was named an NCAA All-American and All-RMISA in 2010, before also collecting All-Academic and Mountain West Scholar-Athlete honors.
He medically retired from racing before the 2013 season, but remained with the UNM program as a student assistant coach and eventually full-time assistant through 2016. With Niess on staff, the Lobos finished third at the 2014 NCAA Championships and fifth in 2015. Niess helped Eva Severrus to a 15K freestyle individual national title in 2014 among five Nordic All-American results. The following year, Emilie Cedervaern won the women's 15K classic title.
He earned his Bachelor's degree in exercise science (manga cum laude) from New Mexico in 2014, before graduating from UNM in 2016 with a Master's in physical education.
He is joined in Salt Lake City by his wife, Heleene, and daughter, Lumi.
Niess made an immediate impact with the Utes, winning RMISA Nordic Coach of the Year in 2025 as Utah took home the NCAA Championship, RMISA regular season championship and regional title. Utah had a pair of individual national champions in Erica Lavén (women’s 7.5K classic) and Joe Davies (men’s 20K freestyle) as the Utes racked up 10 Nordic All-American awards.
Lavén swept both of the RMISA MVP awards in women’s classic and freestyle, putting together a dominant freshman season with podiums in all 13 of her starts to go with eight victories—capped off by an individual national crown.
During the RMISA regular season, Niess’ group tallied 1,695 points and had seven All-RMISA selections. It was a testament to the talented depth among the team; although the point total placed the team second in the RMISA Nordic standings (by a mere 3.5 points), it was impressive considering that six athletes missed portions of the college season to take advantage of opportunities with the World Cup, World Championships and both the U23 and Junior World Championships.
Prior to Utah, Niess spearheaded the Plain Valley Nordic Team from its founding in 2016 through 2024. Under his leadership, the program led daily training from athletes ranging from ages 8-18. PVNT's racing lineup included the United States Junior and Senior National Championships, leading to a top-15 junior club ranking in three straight seasons. It all took place while the program developed and managed its own ski trail system, grooming and fundraising.
Niess was named the Pacific Northwest Ski Association Coach of the Year in 2021 and '22.
Raised in France where he enjoyed a successful national racing career, Niess went on to ski collegiately at New Mexico from 2010-12. At that point, he was mentored by current Utah director of skiing Fredrik Landstedt. He was named an NCAA All-American and All-RMISA in 2010, before also collecting All-Academic and Mountain West Scholar-Athlete honors.
He medically retired from racing before the 2013 season, but remained with the UNM program as a student assistant coach and eventually full-time assistant through 2016. With Niess on staff, the Lobos finished third at the 2014 NCAA Championships and fifth in 2015. Niess helped Eva Severrus to a 15K freestyle individual national title in 2014 among five Nordic All-American results. The following year, Emilie Cedervaern won the women's 15K classic title.
He earned his Bachelor's degree in exercise science (manga cum laude) from New Mexico in 2014, before graduating from UNM in 2016 with a Master's in physical education.
He is joined in Salt Lake City by his wife, Heleene, and daughter, Lumi.
Seven New Inductees to Join Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2025
Monday, July 28
University of Utah Athletics - A Storied History
Friday, August 02
Last weekend, Sydney Palmer-Leger won the 7.5K freestyle earning her THIRD national title! 🏆 🏆 🏆
Wednesday, March 13
Utah Skiing National Championship 2023!!
Friday, May 26
