The 2020 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Men's Indoor Track and Field National Coach of the Year, Bryan Schiding is in his 14th year as a coach at Missouri Southern. He is in his seventh year as Director of Cross Country and Track and Field after serving as the Men's track and Field and Cross Country Head Coach for the previous three seasons.
The 2021-22 season saw continued success for the Missouri Southern track and field and cross country programs. In total, the Lions had 62 NCAA Provisional Qualifying Marks throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons. The Lions finished 13th nationally in the cross country season, while finishing 26th at the Outdoor Championships and tied a program-best for finish with a 6th-place finish at the Outdoor Championships. The men's staff was named the MIAA Men's Coaching Staff of the Year during the outdoor season as the Lions finished 3rd during the indoor season and 2nd at both the outdoor championships and cross country championships.
The Lions posted 16 separate All-American performances throughout the year. JP Rutledge started things off with a 6th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, while Ryan Riddle was also an All-American. The Lions had four All-Americans at the indoor championships, led by Kiara Smith who was a National Runner-Up in the 60m hurdles. Ten different All-American performances highlighted the outdoor season as both Rajheim Carby and Elizabeth Pomatto picked up National Runner-Up finishes in the men's and women's javelin. Peyton Barton was a two-time All-American at the Championships earning honors in both the discus and hammer throw.
Southern was a destination of MIAA Champions in the year as the Lions claimed 14 different individual championships. Ryan Riddle won the MIAA Cross Country title, as well as the NCAA Regional Championship to lead things off for the Green and Gold. Five different Lions earned MIAA titles at the indoor championships, including Riddle taking the title in the 3k and 5k, while Josh Fulmer won the championship in the weight throw. Claire Luallen was the champion in the long jump, while Kiara Smith won in the 60m hurdles. At the outdoor championships, the Lions had a pair of multiple event winners as Riddle won the 5k and 10k, while Peyton Barton took home the gold in the discus and the hammer. Luallen repeated as the long jump champ, while Brendan Jewell was the men's high jump champion. Elizabeth Pomatto and Rajheim Carby won both the men's and women's javelin. In total, Southern produced 28 All-MIAA performers throughout the year.
The Lions had 23 NCAA Qualifiers throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons, while posting 24 All-Region honorees in cross country and track and field.
The 2020-21 season saw the Lions continue their high rate of success in both the MIAA and at the national level. The women captured the 2021 Outdoor MIAA Championship, while Schiding and his coaching staff were named the MIAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Coaches of the Year. The men finished as the runners-up at both in both the Indoor and Outdoor seasons. At the MIAA Indoor Championship, the Lions swept the MIAA High Point Honors as Claire Luallen won the women's side and Ryan Riddle took the title for the men. The women were ranked as high as fourth in the outdoor season and 11th in the indoor season, while the men were ranked as high as 7th in the outdoor season and tenth in the indoor season. The Lions were also the only program in the MIAA to have both teams finish eighth or higher at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Throughout the season, Schiding coached the Lions to 28 All-American performances, 49 All-MIAA performances, and secured 19 MIAA Individual Champions and two individual National Champions. Schiding was named the Division II Women's Regional Outdoor Coach of the Year, while assistant coach Brian Allen was named the Division II Regional Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year. Rajindra Campbell capped the season with a pair of National Championships in the outdoor season, winning both the discus and shot put titles.
The 2019-20 season, although cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic, saw one filled with honors for both Schiding and his student-athletes. Schiding helped guide the men to their third MAIA Indoor Championship after being picked to finish fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll. They finished with five individual champions and scored 142 points, 26 points ahead of second place. The Lions, who finished the season ranked No. 8 nationally, were ranked at No. 6 earlier this year, the highest Southern has ever been ranked for the indoor portion of the schedule. Schiding was named Central Region Men's Coach of the Year. Under Schiding's guidance, the team had 19 NCAA provisional qualifiers, with three being automatic qualifiers, plus one relay team. His athletes also broke six school records during the season. The Lions were ranked No. 1 in the Central Region with nine student-athletes from the men's side who were scheduled to compete in the NCAA Division II National Championships in six events. A total of 21 student-athletes on both men's and women's squads qualified for the National Championships earning 24 All-American performances in the process, the largest number in the MIAA. The Southern women were ranked as high as number 2 during the indoor season and the squad included the No. 1 ranked hurdle and pole vault groups in Division II. Schiding concluded the season being named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II Men's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.
Both the men and the women earned the USTFCCCA's team academic award in 2019-20, while 11 women and one man earned individual honors. The men's cross country team and Gidieon Kimutai repeated as team and individual MIAA and NCAA Division II Regional Champions, while both Kimutai and coach Jamie Burnham repeated as Regional Coach and Athlete of the Year. Asistant Coach Jason Francis was named the USTFCCCA Regional Indoor Men's Assistant Coach of the Year, while Rajindra Campbell was named the Regional Male Field Athlete of the Year and Emily Presley was named the Women's Field Athlete of the Year. The men's coaching staff was also named the MIAA Men's Coaching Staff of the Year for the indoor season.
The 2018-19 men's program finished 8th in the USTFCCCA Program of the Year Standings after an 11th place finish at the Cross Country National Championships as well as top-25 finishes at both the Indoor and Outdoor Division II Championships. The men's Cross Country team won both the MIAA and Regional Championships, while the program (men and women) picked up 11 All-Americans in the 2019 outdoor season, including the National Champion in the women's javelin (Morgan Ash). Along with Ash's national title, Desirea Buerge picked up All-American honors in both the shot put and discus, while Emily Presley was the national runner up in the pole vault.
The indoor season saw a pair of All-Americans in Adrain Broadus in the triple jump, while Kimutai picked up an All-American honor in the 5k. Academically, the women earned the USTFCCCA's Team Academic Award with a 3.51 cumulative GPA, while two men and 13 women earned individual honors.
The 2017-18 season saw more success for the track and field and cross country programs at Southern. In total, the Lions saw 12 All-American performances in indoor and outdoor track and field, with Emily Presley snagging National Champion honors in the indoor pole vault and Bryan Burns earning National Champion honors in the discus. The program saw 48 provisional marks and seven automatic qualifying marks over the indoor and outdoor seasons.
The success didn't end there for the program. Burns was named both the Indoor and Outdoor Regional Field Athlete of the Year, while Allie Heckemeyer put together one of the most memorable total seasons ever. Heckemeyer was named the MSSU EO and Virginia Humphrey winner, while also earning her second NCAA Elite 90 Award. She concluded her career with the MIAA Ken B. Jones Award. That honor is bestowed on the top male and female student-athlete in the conference.
The Lions finished the year ranked seventh in the USTFCCCA Program of the Year Standings. It marked the fourth time in the past five years Southern has been recognized as the top Track and Field and Cross Country Program in the MIAA. The team boasted seven individual MIAA Champions, while also demonstrating success in the classroom with 53 student-athletes being named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
The 2016-17 season saw the most successful season ever for the Missouri Southern men's track and field and cross country programs. The team finished third in the final standings for the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Program of the Year Standings. The men's and women's program produced 12 All-Americans in the year.
Vincent Kiprop won four individual National Championships as he started with cross country, then won the indoor 5k, and finished with the outdoor 5k and 10k. Also in that same outdoor meet, Emily Presley repeated as National Champion in the pole vault. In total, the Lions produced five individual National Champions in 2016-17.
Kiprop went on to win the Cross Country and Outdoor Track and Field National Athlete of the Year awards, while repeating as the National Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The Cross Country team won the MIAA Championship and finished seventh at the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Last, but not least, 24 Missouri Southern men's and women's track and field and cross country athletes were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
His 2015-16 season saw the coach help mentor two national champions. Vincent Kiprop, after finishing the cross country season as the national runner up and being named the Regional Cross Country Athlete of the Year, as well as the National Student-Athlete of the Year, went on to win the national championship in the outdoor 10k. Kiprop was the MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Meet High Point winner, winning the 5k, 3k and the 3k Steeple. Schiding was named the NCAA Regional Coach of the Year, as well as Kiprop earning Regional Track Athlete of the Year honors.
On the women's side, Emily Presley won the outdoor pole vault national championship after Melanie Bower had finished as the runner up in the indoor season. Presley was also an All-American in the indoor season, placing eighth. Also in the indoor season, Jayce Thomas destroyed the MSSU heptathlon record and was an All-American in the event, earning the fourth-highest point total ever in the event's history in Division II. For his efforts, Thomas was the MIAA Indoor Track and Field High Point winner and was the Indoor Regional Athlete of the Year. All told, the Lions broke or tied seven school records in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. The men also won the 2016 Outdoor Track and Field Championship, the school's first MIAA Outdoor Title, earning Schiding the MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year honors. In all, the Lions picked up 15 All-American performances from cross country to indoor and outdoor track during the 2015-16 season.
The 2014-15 season saw the Lions finish 7th nationally for NCAA Program of The Year, which combines Cross Country, Indoor & Outdoor NCAA Championship finishes. Southern was the only MIAA School in the top-10 programs. 2014 also saw the distance team return to the Top of the Cross Country podium, winning its eighth MIAA Championship in 14 years.
In 13 years at Southern, the jump and sprint track & field athletes have combined for 65 individual and four relay All-American honors. In total, the Southern track and field athletes have accounted for 550 individual NCAA qualifying marks (313 men, 237 women) during his tenure.
Missouri Southern Jumpers have made a major impact at the MIAA and NCAA stage. Darion Boure, was a mainstay on the NCAA level in triple jump. He was a three-time All-American, finishing third two times. At the 2015 NCAA indoor championships his triple jumpers placed third and ninth, as freshman Kennan Harrison jumped 15.00m in his first year. Josh Norville has been highly successful as of late in the long jump, recording 11 top-10 MSSU marks in the indoor and outdoor long jump. In all, all but four top-ten marks for the men in the long and triple jumps have been recorded in the past six years. Female long jumpers, Claire Luallen, Kaylee Morgan and Brittani Reagan have all eclipsed the 20’ barrier as part of a group of just four females to accomplish that feat at MSSU.
The Pole vaulters have continued their string of success. Southern is a constant at the NCAA Championships. In 12 years, MSSU vaulters have combined for 71 NCAA qualifying marks, with 14 earning All-American Honors. Emily Presley won the 2016 and 2017 NCAA Outdoor National Championship as well as the 2018 Indoor Title, while Melanie Bower and Presley were both All-Americans in the indoor season, with Bower finishing as the national runner up. At the 2018 Indoor Championships, both Presley and Elena Bissoto were All-Americans. Presley became the first MSSU women to eclipse the 14-foot barrier in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, while Presley is the only other to eclipse 13 feet. Michael Juergens was the fourth vaulter in MSSU history to break the 17 foot barrier in 2013. In 2012, the women’s vaulters finished the MIAA indoor campaign with an impressive a 1-2-3-4 finish at the conference championship, something that had never been accomplished.
The Southern sprinters have virtually rewrote the indoor and outdoor top-10 lists. Sprinter Jeff Fraley played an integral part in this earning three MIAA High point awards, and numerous MIAA runner of the week awards. Fraley was ranked top-3 nationally in the 60m(6.68), 100m(10.23), 200m(20.66) and the 400m(46.80). He narrowly missed a national championship in 2015 in the 60m and 100m, placing second in both. He finished his career with eight All-American honors and was the undefeated MIAA Champion in both the indoor and outdoor 200m, winning the event in each of his four years. Fraley is also an Academic All-American. Add to that, both the 4x400 and 4x100 records fell in 2015. Kiara Smith was a two-time All-American performer in the women's hurdles in 2021-22, including a National Runner-Up in the 60m hurdles. She broke both the 60m and the 100m hurdles record during her sophomore season.
Another one of Schiding’s more decorated athletes is Tyrone Smith. Smith, a professional long jumper, currently owns the Bermuda national record. He most recently finished 12th at the 2015 IAAF World Championships, was a finalist at the 2012 London Olympic games, and had previously finished 15th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Smith currently has a personal best jump of 27’ 0”. His collegiate career included two national runner-up finishes and a fourth place showing in the event at the 2006 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships.
Prior to Missouri Southern, Schiding spent six years at Missouri S&T. He was twice named as the NCAA Division II Men’s Regional Assistant Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 2007 for the Great Lakes Region after the Miners posted their highest finish ever at an NCAA championship meet, then again in 2009 as the Missouri S&T men's team swept the Great Lakes Valley Conference titles with strong performances from its sprinters and jumpers keying the title runs.
While at S&T, Schiding developed one of the finest Pole Vault programs in Division II. Over a span of six years, he had 14 All-Americans and 30 NCAA qualifiers in the Pole Vault. In 2009, he coached three different pole vaulters over 17 feet. The Miner sprinters and field event competitors had great success under Schiding's guidance. His stay at Missouri S&T saw 74 individuals qualify for the NCAA Championships with 22 earning All-America honors. His athletes set 61 new school records and had over 150 all-conference performances. Missouri S&T also had four individuals earn the GLVC "Freshman of the Year" awards and had a total of 73 individual qualifying marks, one relay and 21 All-Americans during his stay in Rolla.
Prior to joining the Missouri S&T coaching staff, Schiding served as an assistant track and field coach at LaSalle University in Philadelphia for the three seasons. He coached both the men's and women's field events and also worked with the sprinters and hurdlers. He helped coach teams to a total of five Atlantic-10 Conference championships, including two men's and two women's titles in cross country, and the men’s indoor title in 2003. His athletes established 11 new school records during his three seasons on the staff.
Schiding was the team captain while competing at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., from where he graduated in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in economics. He set the school record in the indoor long jump and won conference titles in the long jump (twice) and triple jump. He earned seven all-conference awards during his career at Bucknell. Schiding also competed in the sprint and multi events as well as the relays.
He earned his MBA, with a concentration in marketing, from LaSalle. Schiding currently resides in Carl Junction with his wife, Stephanee, daughter Lilyan and son William.
