Coach Ted Schmitz says his mission statement is, “to Glorify God in all that he does and to encourage others to do the same.”

In his 40 years at Cloud County Community College, Coach Schmitz has recorded a decorated history of individual and team success. He has been inducted into three Halls of Fame; The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coaches Hall of Fame in 2008, Cloud County Community College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008, and the NJCAA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2021.

Schmitz has been awarded the NJCAA National Track Coach of the Year three times, the Region VI Track Coach of the Year 10 times, the USTFCCCA Central Region Track Coach of the
Year five times, and the Region VI Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year four times.

He has coached the Women’s Thunderbird Track and Field teams to 31 top-10 NJCAA team finishes, including three top-five finishes and 31 the top-three Region VI Championship finishes, including three championship titles.

In total, Schmitz has produced over 270 All-Americans, nine Individual National Champions, and has coached an All-American in every track and field event. His teams have also included over 200 Academic All-Americans.

Coach Schmitz has served as the NJCAA Coaches Association President, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian, as well as the Region VI President.

During his tenure at Cloud, he has served as the head women’s track coach for 37 years, the assistant track coach for three years, and a volunteer assistant men’s track coach for 40 years. Schmitz was the assistant men’s soccer coach from 1981 to 1983 and the head men’s soccer coach from 1983 to 1990. He is currently serving as an assistant men’s and women’s track coach.

Coach Schmitz grew up with his parents and eight siblings on a small dairy farm near Baileyville, Kansas.  He participated in football, basketball and track while attending B & B high school. He then attended Cloud County Community College where he was an athlete on the track and field team. Schmitz received his associate degree from Cloud in 1979 and continued his academic career at Kansas State University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Education. He married his wife Kathy in 1981. They have two children, Dustin and Cody.

Schmitz has served as a sponsor of Cloud County’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes for the past 35 years.  His ultimate desire as a coach is to show the love of Christ to all he comes into contact with.