January 5, 2005
Release courtesty of Tom Galbraith, Loras College sports information director

DUBUQUE, IOWA . . . Bob Schultz, head men’s/women’s track and field and cross country coach at Lewis University and former Loras assistant coach from 1991-94, has been named head coach for men’s/women’s track and field and cross country at Loras College. Loras Director of Athletics Chad Walthall made the announcement today. Schultz will begin his coaching duties at Loras in March as Dr. Robert Tucker will remain the Duhawks’ interim head coach throughout the 2005 season.

Schultz has spent three seasons at Lewis where he has coached the Flyers’ men’s track and field program to two Great Lakes Valley Conference indoor titles and one women’s outdoor league championship. He has coached 36 All-America honorees and two national champions during his tenure. His 2002 and 2004 men’s cross country teams also won the GLVC championships.

A Chicago area native, Schultz ran track and cross country at highly acclaimed York High School in Elmhurst, Ill. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Lewis in 1991 and completed his Master’s in physical education/athletics administration from Loras in 1994. Before moving to Lewis, Schultz served eight seasons (1994-2001) as the head men’s/women’s cross country coach at Elmhurst College. He doubled as the head men’s/women’s track and field coach for the final six of those eight years after being promoted from assistant coach, a position he held the first two years at Elmhurst.

Schultz said three things stood out that attracted him to return to Loras. His wife is from Dubuque and the connection to his family is a strong reason to return. The others were the positive experience he had as an assistant coach at Loras and his desire to return to NCAA Division III and its philosophy.

“The way things are done at the Division III level puts everything in perspective,” he said. “The focus on the student-athlete as whole persons makes coaching and advising young people at that level much more simplistic and pure. It is the level where I feel most comfortable.”

Walthall said he believes Loras has found a perfect fit for the head coaching vacancy. “Bob’s coaching record is outstanding, but more impressive are his strong personal integrity and his desire to return to Loras and help make the Duhawk track and field and cross country programs the best they can be.”

Schultz and his wife, Jennifer [nee Buelow], are the parents of two sons, Joey (6) and Justin (2).

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