Texas A&M University-Commerce names Darren Schneider head men’s track and field coach
Texas A&M University-Commerce athletic director Carlton Cooper has named Darren Schneider as the head men’s track and field coach at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Schneider comes to A&M-Commerce after spending the last 10 years at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. At UW-Whitewater, Schneider built the men’s program into perennial national title contenders. He guided the Warhawks to 17 top 20 national meet finishes in indoor and outdoor competition. In 2004, UW-Whitewater accomplished its highest-ever indoor national finish with a second place performance at the NCAA Championships. In addition, the men’s program has placed third in the nation at the outdoor NCAA Championships in both 2004 and 2006.
Also at UW-Whitewater, Schneider’s athletes have earned All-American honors 93 times including nine athletes have been crowned as individual NCAA Division III national champions. In 2002 and 2007, Coach Schneider was named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
In addition to his success on the track and field, he was instrumental in the development of the $15 million Kachel Fieldhouse that served as the 2004 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. He was also involved in the $7 million outdoor athletic facility transformation. Upgrades included a new track and field facility, which included a 1,700-seat stadium structure with a press box, a nine-lane Olympic caliber competition track with lighting, and a scoreboard that was completed in the fall of 2008.
Prior to taking over the UW-Whitewater program, Schneider was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for three years (1996-99). He also worked with the Truman State University men’s cross country and track and field as well as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State University. Prior to entering the collegiate coaching ranks, he coached at Knox County High School in Edina, Missouri and Lafayette High School in St. Louis, Missouri.
He has bachelor’s degree from Truman State University, master’s degree from the United States Sports Academy. ??Schneider and his wife, Shella have two children, Reed and Granton.
