In 2005 Ed Schlichter graduated from UNC Charlotte with a degree in English, and four years later he was named head coach of the same running program that he participated in from 2002 to 2005. Schlichter replaces Brad Herbster who left to take the head coach job at Clemson.
While running for UNC Charlotte, Schlichter was a seven-time All-Conference selection and was also the first athlete to be named Conference USA male athlete of the year for cross country. During his time on both the cross-country team and the indoor track team, Schlichter led the 49ers to their first conference championship in each sport respectively.
After graduating, Schlichter split his time between assisting the UNC Charlotte cross-country program and running competitively in marathons and other distance events. After helping out the team for two years Schlichter had two choices: “I could have either been a financial analyst or a cross country coach”, and when the call came from USC Upstate he narrowed his choices to one.
In 2007 he joined the USC Upstate coaching staff where he acted as their recruiting coordinator and distance specialist. During his time at USC Upstate, the team recorded marginal success with many runners receiving numerous A-Sun honors.
When Coach Herbster left this past year to join the Clemson Tigers program Schlichter was surprised to get a call from his alma mater asking if he wanted to accept the head coaching position. Schlichter quickly agreed and is now entering his first season at the helm of the 49ers cross-country team and distance program. He reflected saying, “For me to fathom this a couple of years ago I would have been like ‘wow’, but I feel that I am ready.”
Schlichter feels he is ready from both his experiences at USC Upstate and his almost 7 years of competing and coaching under Coach Herbster. Coach Schlichter wants to carve out his own coaching legacy at UNC Charlotte and will attempt to combine many different methods from his many years of experience to create a coaching attitude that is all his own. Schlichter tries to work with each athlete individually and tailor a workout that suits his or her needs.
Schlichter treats his athletes like Formula One racecars and keeps them oiled with six practices a week. During practice the men and women run many of the trails around campus and sometimes go to the 49ers home course at McAlpine Creek Park. McAlpine Park is home to one of the best courses in North Carolina and it is a place that the UNC Charlotte cross-country team is proud to call home. Because a well-oiled machine can sometimes overwork itself, Schlichter is very careful to watch the cross-country athletes to make sure they don’t overwork themselves and “blow a gasket.” During races the coach runs from point to point along the track and gives the runners pointers, and in some cases tells them to conserve energy for the rest of the race.
Schlichter feels that he was left a great team by his former coach and he has great expectations this year – especially for the women’s cross-country team. The team is ranked in the top 10 of the region. Coach Schlichter knows that it will be a tough road to nationals, but he is looking forward to what is in store.
The cross-country teams’ first major test came last weekend when the team traveled to Blacksburg, Virginia and competed in the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational. UNC Charlotte joined Virginia Tech, Florida State, Ohio University, Wake Forest, USC Upstate, Concord, Roanoke, and Virginia Tech alumni in the event. The men finished third overall, and the women finished sixth.
Coach Schilichter seems ready and willing to lead the cross-country team and distance track runners, and is well on his way to establishing a winning legacy.
Be the first to comment on this article!