Tuesday, August 06, 2013

MS Mankato's Mark Schuck to Step Down at End of 2013 XC Season


schuck retirement photo
  Mark Schuck, Minnesota State’s men’s cross country coach since 1979, has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2012-13 school year.

Under his 34-year tenure as head cross country coach (his first season was 1979-80), Schuck’s teams won nine North Central Conference cross country titles (1981, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2006) and one Northern Intercollegiate title (1979). A nine-time league Cross Country Coach of the Year (eight times in the NCC, once in the NSIC), Schuck was named the North Central Regional Men’s Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1999. 

Schuck led the Mavericks to their first-ever NCAA Division II cross country title in 1988 when the team tied with Edinboro University for the national championship. Including 2012, the Mavericks have made 25 appearances at the NCAA cross country meet under Schuck’s guidance and have posted 16 top ten finishes.

A Nicollet, MN, native, Schuck has also served as head coach of the MSU men’s track and field program for 15 years. He has had four national individual champions during his tenure and he nabbed NCC Indoor Coach of the Year accolades in 2004, 2006 and 2008 and NSIC ITF Coach of the Year honors in 2009, 2010 and 2012. In 2006, 2009 and 2010 he was selected as the North Central Regional Indoor Men’s TF Coach of the Year. He is a four-time league Outdoor T&F Coach of the Year (2008 in the NCC, 2009, 2010 and 2012 in the NSIC) and his indoor track & field team finished second in the nation in 1989.

Schuck is a three-time national coach of the year (2006 USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor Track Coach of the Year and 1988 and 1993 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year).

As a MSU student-athlete, Schuck participated in cross country, track and field and basketball before graduating in 1969. He began his coaching career at Mankato Wilson High School, where he also served as the athletic director for eight years.

“I have been very fortunate in my coaching career and with life in general,” said Schuck. “I came to MSU in the fall of 1965 as a student and never left.  I received my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at MSU and taught and coached at the lab school for eight years prior to coaching at the university.  I had the honor and privilege to be a student and colleague of such great MSU people as Bob Otto, Bud Myers, Chuck Peterson, Georgene Brock, Rummy Macias, Jean McCarthy, Lois Mussett, Clem Thompson, Don Brose, Bill Morris, Art Ollerich and many more. 

" Just as important are all the amazing athletes I have coached and worked with through the years. It is hard to leave the great team we presently have and the coaching staff of Matt Kolb, Tom Dahlin, Kevin Sanger and Jim Dilling as well as the women’s coaching staff led by Jen Blue. I am forever grateful for having this opportunity.”

“MSU has a long, storied history and rich tradition in its men’s cross country and track and field programs and Mark Schuck has authored one it’s most successful chapters ever,” said MSU Director of Athletics Kevin Buisman. “His passion, commitment, and loyalty to MSU athletics are unrivaled and we are forever indebted based on his record or service and accomplishment.  The student-athletes he has coached and the colleagues who have had the good fortune to work alongside him over the years are all better for the experience.   You don’t replace people like Mark Schuck—you only fill the position and hope for the best in moving forward.   We certainly wish Mark all the best in retirement and in all his future endeavors.”

Buisman said that a national search would be conducted to find Schuck’s replacement.

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