Cross Country coaching staff honored by WIAC

2019 WIAC Cross Country Awards Story

MENOMONIE (December 4, 2019) - After two second place finishes at the conference championship for the second time in three seasons and a third straight trip to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship, the UW-Stout men's cross country coaching staff of head coach Matt Schauf and assistant coaches Emma Berndt and Logan Gullickson were named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's coaching staff of the year.

The Blue Devils men's cross country team finished second at the WIAC Cross Country Championship at Cuba City, a feat they had accomplished during the 2017 season. Led by top seven finishes by sophomore Spencer Schultz and senior Mike Friedman, the Blue Devils matched their second place conference finish from 2017 and 1982.  

Schultz placed fifth to earn first team all-conference honors, while Friedman placed seventh to also earn first team all-conference honors. For both runners, it was their first all-conference cross country designation. Junior Brian Mathews earned all-conference honorable mention honors with a 20th place finish.

The Blue Devils finished fifth at the NCAA Division III Midwest Championship and earned the team's third consecutive at-large bid to the national championship. Three Blue Devils earned all-region honors. Schultz paced the Blue Devils with a 13th place finish.  Friedman placed 26th  and senior Michael Fifield placed 34th. The top 35 runners earn All-Region honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

At the national championship, the Blue Devils moved up a spot to finish 21st. Friedman paced Stout with a top 60 finish. Mathews and sophomores Matthew Ryan and Mitchell Popp all recorded career-best times in the 8-kilometer race at the national meet.

Schauf earned the coach of the year award individually during the 2012 season. The conference has moved from recognizing the head coach to honoring the entire coaching staff. Schauf completed his 13th season as the Blue Devil head cross country coach. Berndt is in her second season at Stout and Gullickson is in his 10th season with the Blue Devils. Schauf, Berndt and Gullickson also coach the Blue Devil women's cross country team. 

The Blue Devil men's team was selected as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for the ninth consecutive season and the women's team for the 15th consecutive year.