The Next Stride: Priscilla Schultz Leads Milwaukee's Distance Program
When Priscilla Schultz arrived at Milwaukee as the cross country associate head coach and track & field assistant coach this past summer, she brought with her experience as an elite runner, a passion for athlete development, and a clear vision for the future. Schultz, who competed in Olympic Trials and ran at the national level during her career, now lead's Milwaukee's distance program with a holistic approach centered around both athletic and personal growth. The Roar Report sat down with Schultz to discuss her new role, her coaching philosophy, and the foundation she hopes to build with the Panthers.
The Opportunity
What made Milwaukee the right next step for you in your coaching career?
It is a great opportunity to work with both genders as the head cross country coach. The city itself provides so much, and there is so much happening in the area. It's close to family, so that obviously was an easy move for me. From a coaching perspective, the opportunity to have my own program and coach both men and women was important.
What excites you the most about joining the Panthers and leading the cross-country program?
There's so much opportunity for our team to get better. We have such a great surrounding area to train. Cross country is my second love - obviously I love track - but cross country involves a lot of different training, and Milwaukee is a great place for that. The program has been at a championship level and now are competing against other teams that have risen to that standard, and now we must raise the bar. That's the challenge, and so that's the exciting part for me.
Coaching Philosophy
How would you describe your coaching philosophy, especially with distance athletes?
It's holistic in that I prioritize not only their physical being, but also their mental being. There are many factors that contribute to becoming a great distance runner in terms of the mental approach and the positive self-talk. My philosophy is to hit all those factors that help build that distance runner but also be their mentor. I feel like they should be able to communicate well with me. Yes, I'm their coach, but I'm helping them become the best personal they can possibly be. My philosophy is progressive, and we continually build off that strong foundation.
As someone who competed at the Olympic Trials and national level, how has your experience as an elite athlete shaped the way you coach?
I received great advice when I first entered coaching from successful colleagues of mine including: "The athlete isn't you". You have to remember that. I try not to say, "I did this", or "you should be able to do this". I know what you're going through in terms of training. Regardless of what level you're at, you're going to go through certain things physically and mentally as a runner and as an athlete.
What do you believe separates a good distance program from a great one?
Having complete buy-in from the athlete's perspective along with coaches instilling belief in them. It goes both ways. Coming into a new program where they don't know who you are and what you're trying to establish, that's always a challenge. So, what establishes a great program? Consistency over time. Years and years and years of time. It's not going to be built the next semester, the next year, but you have to provide the vision. It takes time, but I already think that the Panthers are starting to really believe and see some good progress.
Building at Milwaukee
What are your immediate priorities as you step into this role?
My first priority was getting to know my athletes. You need to know who you're coaching because skill levels differ. I called every single one of them when I was hired just to have a one-on-one conversation. I got to know them well, how they think, and how they operate. I wanted to know their history; I want to know injuries. I just wanted to have some fluid conversation with them. Do they have brothers and sisters? Where are they in the whole process of their career? And then once that was established, the next priority was, who are they competitively?
When recruiting, what qualities do you look for in prospective student-athletes?
I'm recruiting not only an athlete, but a person. They have to be a great person. You want a good teammate, a team player, someone who is coachable, somebody who's going to listen and take direction. Those are the qualities I look at. Not only telling me that you're going to do something but show me you're going to do it in a race. I'm looking for that fierce person.
Athlete Development
You were an Academic All-American. How important is academic balance in your program?
Academics are absolutely a priority. I told the athletes recently that you can do one thing great. You can do two things pretty well, and really being a student athlete is a priority. Student first, athlete second. I want them to be great at both, and they can do both. It's always when you add that third component, right? It makes it tough. Whether it's obligation to family or work. I want their priority to be on academics. We want them to graduate, get a degree, and be great alumni that come back, visit us, and support us. That's the fun part of seeing your athlete's graduate. It's just heartwarming to see their success.
Distance running is as mental as it is physical. How do you help athletes navigate the highs and lows of a long season?
I think it's important to acknowledge and it's good to let them express their feelings. Obviously, I'm not a professional sports psychologist. I've always offered up our services here at Milwaukee and explain to them that additional support is available. We talk a lot about calming nerves and what to do along with breathing and visualization. We've practiced visualization in some of our practice sessions – having them lay down and actually visualize a race. You should always talk about it.
Personal & Wisconsin Connection
Your husband is a Wisconsin native. What does it mean to you to now coach in this state?
Wisconsin really feels like a second home for me. My husband is from here, and most of his family still lives in the area. Being able to spend more time with family instead of just visiting once a year has been really special. I've actually been visiting Wisconsin since around 2006, so I was already familiar with the state. Now being here full-time makes it even more meaningful.
You previously coached in Arizona. How different is training in Wisconsin's climate compared to the Southwest?
There are definitely differences. In a hot climate, heat will always affect training, but cold brings its own challenges as well. The biggest difference is that in colder weather you can layer up and still manage to train outside, while in extreme heat there is only so much you can do before it becomes unsafe.
In Arizona, you may have ideal training weather in the winter months, but from late spring through fall the heat becomes a major factor. In Wisconsin, we experience all four seasons, so it requires adjusting training based on temperature, humidity, and wind. A lot of it comes down to planning and making sure athletes stay hydrated, adjusting training times, and paying close attention to the weather each day.
Looking Ahead
What does success look like to you in year one with the Panthers?
Success is seeing progress. Are the athletes improving? Are they running faster than they've run before? We track those improvements in races, workouts, and rankings. Even something like seeing an athlete run a workout ten seconds faster per kilometer than earlier in the season shows progress.
Ultimately, success is about the team getting better day by day and week by week while building a strong foundation for the future.
