MINOT, N.D. – Steven Schultz's leadership of the Beaver cross country programs will continue after a successful fall as interim head coach.
Minot State's Director of Athletics, Kevin Forde, announced this week that the Beavers have named Schultz as the program's head coach moving forward, as well as the assistant coach for distance runners for the Minot State track and field programs.
"It feels great! I'm very excited for this opportunity!" said Schultz, who has served as interim head since August. "This team is a great group of young men and women and I'm very grateful for how they've responded to the adversity that coaching changes can bring."
Schultz joined the Minot State track and field program during the 2022-23 season as the throws coach for the Beavers and moved into the role of interim head coach for cross country when former Minot State head coach Sarah Fowler took the head coaching position at Seton Hill (Pa.) in August.
Since taking over leadership of the Minot State cross country program, Schultz has guided the Beaver women to a team win in the small-school division of the Chile Pepper Festival hosted by the University of Arkansas, and saw
Jacob Jensen win the second individual race title of his cross-country career at Minot State as he bested the field at the Jimmie Invitational hosted by the University of Jamestown earlier this month.
"I feel like I bring a steady and measured approach," Schultz said of his coaching philosophy this fall and moving forward. "I know that a collegiate athletics career is full of highs and lows, but I'm confident our athletes will have a positive experience in their time here at Minot State."
With the interim tag removed, Schultz now prepares to guide his Beaver teams to the NSIC Championships this weekend at McDowell Dam in Bismarck, N.D., and to the NCAA Central Region Championship next month in Missouri.
Once the cross-country season is complete, Schultz will focus on his duties with the Minot State track and field teams, adding the additional duties of coaching his distance runners to his current role as throws coach.
"The difference between running and throwing is like night and day," he said. "I really enjoy the challenge of coaching such a diverse set of event areas. I like being able to work with such diverse athlete profiles as well."
