Jared Schatz 2023-24 Cross Country Staff

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Hatherly-Piane Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Matt Sparks announced the addition of Jared Schatz in August of 2022. Schatz will serve as an assistant coach for the Track & Field and Cross Country teams.

“Jared joins us from Florida State and has a great understanding of what it takes to be successful in the ACC.  He will do exceptionally well recruiting and connecting with the athletes,” said Sparks.

Prior to Notre Dame, Schatz served as the Operations Assistant for the Florida State men’s cross country and track and field teams. In this role, Schatz was responsible for assisting the head cross country and track and field coach with day-to-day operations related to the team. He wrote and assisted with practice schedules, workouts, and resistance training. 

Sparks noted that “Much of Jared’s job at FSU was administrative in nature where he learned the importance of the details. Jared’s commitment to being thorough in all he does will allow our program to function at a higher level.”  

At Florida State, Schatz was responsible for monitoring the academic progress of athletes, recruiting high school, transfer and international student athletes. He was responsible for the recruitment of Adriann Wildschutt (13:09 5k, 27:48 10k, six-time NCAA Division 1 All-American), Ahmed Muhumed (7:54 3k, 13:26 5k, two-time NCAA Track & Field National Qualifier, 2022 NCAA Cross Country All-American), Fearghal Curtin (13:35 5k, 28:25 10k, 2022 Cross Country and Track & Field National Qualifier), Cooper Schroeder (13:55 5k, 29:05 10k). 

He also recruited high school athletes such as  Zachary Leachman (8:58 3200m), Anderson Ball (8:58 3200), Patrick Donnelly (9:03 3200m), Michael Toppi (8:59 3200m, Florida 5k State Record holder 14:41, 2021 Nike National Qualifier).

In his time at Florida he collected multiple accolades including a 2022 4th place finish at the Men’s NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field meet. The team also claimed the ACC title in the 2022 Outdoor ACC Championships, and qualified for the 2022 Cross Country Championship where they placed 20th as a team. In 2021 the team placed sixth at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field meet, and took home the ACC Championships in outdoor track.

Prior to Florida State, Schatz served as the Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field Coach for the University of Central Missouri from August of 2016-May of 2019. In this role, Schatz planned daily practices and workouts, wrote running and resistance training workouts, and monitored academic schedules and success of the student-athletes.

Schatz helped the team win the 2019 Men’s Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field MIAA Conference Championships. They also qualified in 2017 for the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships where they placed 20th as a team. In 2016, the team claimed the conference title in 2016 at the MIAA Outdoor Track & Field conference championships.

Schatz received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from Messiah College. At Messiah, he was a four-year member of the varsity men’s cross country team and track & field where he was Division III All-American in the 3000m steeplechase, a three-time NCAA Cross Country/Track & Field championship qualifier, a ten-time First Team All-Conference Cross Country/Track & Field honors, a three-time Middle Atlantic Conference Champion and record holder in the 3000m steeplechase (8:55.34). 

He also earned a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science from the University of Central Missouri.