(Story courtesy of University of Dallas athletics)
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas announced on Thursday that Nick Schneigert has been hired as the head coach for the cross country and track and field programs. Schneigert takes over for previous five-year head coach and UD alumni, Matt Barber, who announced his resignation effective on September 1.
Schneigert will begin his first date at the institution on Sept. 4, as he takes over as the 16th men's cross country head coach, 11th women's cross country head coach, and 10th head coach of the track and field teams.
Schneigert arrives to DFW after spending the past year and a half working in a position as the Program and Events Manager with Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA). Hired in spring of 2018, Schneigert was the 'Go Run Program Manager responsible for the hiring and supervision of three site coordinators. He also managed certifications of road races in the Chicago area under the CARA guidelines and coached distance runners.
Schneigert brings a wealth of coaching experience that includes: collegiate, high school, youth club, and adult levels for cross country and track and field. He has held several part time positions where he has found much success. Schneigert instructed in 2018 at Barrington High School as an assistant jumps coach where the team won the indoor conference championships and outdoor conference championships and placed ninth at the IHSA Class 3A State Championships (highest classification).
In 2017, as an assistant coach at Harper College, Schneigert helped guide the Hawks women's track and field team to a second place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Women's Track & Field Championships and landed the men's team in sixth. Under his tutelage, Ashley Proksa won the NJCAA Division III National Title in Long Jump and a school record.
In the years prior to that, Schneigert was involved in leading cross country to success with Rockford College and Illinois Tech, both NCAA Division III institutions, that included coaching several athletes to all-conference selections. At Illinois Tech in 2016, Schneigert also helped the track and field team break five sprints and jumps record. In two years at Rockford, Schneigert coached two All-Conference athletes and three conference honorable mention athletes. The women's cross country team garnered U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team status, and the 2012 incoming recruiting class was the program's largest in history.
Schneigert headlines his success from 2013-15 as a head men's and women's track and field coach at Triton College. After starting the program at the school, Schneigert boasted several USTFCCCA All-Americans in his tenure.
Overall, Schneigert has coached 25 USTFCCCA All-Americans, nine NJCAA All-Americans, and two Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) All-Conference athletes.
Schneigert also has given involvement with Lifetime Fitness, Ursuline College (NCAA Division II), United States Track and Field, Vikings Track Club, Geneva High School, Northern Illinois Athletics, Huskie Youth Track Club, Barrington School District 220, Naperville Yard, Chicago Area Runners Association, Dick Pond Athletics, and Geneva Running Outfitters.
Schneigert is a Military Veteran with high honors. He was with the United States Navy Reserves, serving as Naval Coordination and Guidance Support from 2006 to 2010. From 2000-2002, Schneigert was Naval Security Force.
As an athlete, Schneigert competed for the All-Navy track and field team in the west coast while he was stationed on the USS Kitty Hawk in the Navy from 1995 to 1999. As a sprinter/mid-distance athlete, Schneigert competed at various NCAA college meets and open meets while he was not on duty. He graduated from Streamwood High School in 1995 where he was also a versatile athlete and found success in sprints, mid-distance, and jumps.
Schneigert has competed in over 100 road races including nine marathons and one ultramarathon.
Schneigert holds several certifications that include: United States Track and Field Association Level II Coaching Certificates in Endurance, Jumps, Youth, and a Level I Basic Coaching Certificate.
Schneigert earned his Bachelor of Science in Radio and Television with a Minor in Public Relations in May 2004 at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.