With ten years of coaching experience prior to his hire at NAU in the fall of 2018, Schutz, has now successfully developed the NAU throws squad for three years.
"I couldn't be more excited for this new role and I am honored to continue to serve NAU Track and Field, " Schutz said, "I greatly appreciate the opportunity Coach Smith has given me to continue to grow in my role and to help him lead this program; thank you, to Athletic Director
Mike Marlow for his trust and for all he does to support our Cross Country and Track and Field programs".
In his first season with the Lumberjacks, Schutz saw the men's throwers contribute an event champion (
Kevin Cooney - weight throw) and 16 percent of the team score, while the women accumulated six percent of the team's total points. Schutz also had three men finish within the top 55 of the indoor NCAA rankings to cap off the season (No. 47
Kevin Cooney - weight throw, No. 50 Will Beaudry - weight throw, No. 54
Parker Joens - shot put).
At the 2019 outdoor conference meet, Schutz 's throwers respectively contributed 37 and 22 percent of total points to the women's and men's team scores;
Matilde Roe earned silver in three events, earning 24 of the 65 women's total points, crowning her the Big Sky Women's Most Valuable Athlete, while
Parker Joens stood on top of the podium as the men's shot put champion.
In the postseason, Joens finished 37th (shot put) as well as 88th (discus), and
Jacob Kaufman placed 80th (hammer) overall in the NCAA rankings, while
Matilde Roe placed 49th (javelin) and 95th (discus) on the women's side.
The following year, Schutz witnessed an indoor conference championship sweep, with his men contributing an event champion in the weight throw and scoring 23 percent of the team's 141.5 points, while his women scored nearly seven percent of the teams 103 points. At the end of the season, Schutz had three men finish within the top 60 of the indoor NCAA rankings (No. 43 Will Beaudry - weight throw, No. 50
Parker Joens - shot put, No. 60
Kevin Cooney - weight throw).
Although the 2020 indoor season was cut short, the outdoor season was cancelled and the Lumberjack track and field team chose to forgo the 2021 indoor season due to the COVID-19 pandemic Schutz has remained an integral part of the coaching staff.
During last year's outdoor competition, Schutz oversaw a new women's javelin school record and qualification for the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championship (
Eniko Sara - 50.73m), a Big Sky Championship sweep with the men's and women's throws teams respectively contributing 20 and 28 percent of the final point totals as well as three event champions (
Matilde Roe - shot put & discus,
Parker Joens - discus), and six Lumberjack throwers at the West Regional meet (
Alaina Diggs,
Matilde Roe,
Eniko Sara,
Jake Arnold, Nick Coghill,
Parker Joens).
To wrap up the season, Schutz had three women and three men rank nationally on the outdoor list with two athletes being ranked in dual events; Joens finished 35th in the men's shot put and 46th in the men's discus, while Roe finished 38th in women's discus and 51st in women's javelin.
Alaina Diggs and
Eniko Sara respectively ranked 61st in shot put and 35th in javelin for the women, as Nick Coghill and
Jake Arnold concurrently finished 62nd and 80th in shot put.
As a former NCAA stand out himself, Schutz has become one of the most instrumental throws coaches in the nation.
Smith explained, "His scope of input is way beyond that of an event coach. I've come to rely on his trusted input on all aspects of day to day operation of NAU Track & Field. While formalizing this elevated title, he will assist me from an invaluable leadership standpoint going forward."
