Redlands track coach lauded

First year University of Redlands coach Mike Schmidt has been named
the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association West
Region Women's Coach of the Year.

In his first year at the University of Redlands, Schmidt led the
women's team to its first SCIAC title since 1978 as the Bulldogs
edged rival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 131-129. I

n addition, senior Natalie Calderon unanimously was named the SCIAC Track & Field
Athlete of the Year after winning five individual and one relay
during the conference championship meet. She later captured NCAA
Championships in the long jump and triple jump at the national meet
in Wisconsin.

Schmidt also produced a solid second-place finish in the men's
conference standings. Graduate student Fritz Nugent won a national
title in the long jump.

Schmidt joined the Redlands staff in the fall from Oneonta State in
New York, where he worked with the track and cross country programs.
During his four-year tenure there he had nine athletes turn in a
total of 17 All-American performances, with three conference team
championships, 49 individual titles and 14 relay championships.

Prior to Oneonta, Schmidt worked with the pole-vaulters and throwers
at Frostburg State University in Maryland.