With the retirement of long-time Coach Tom Rutledge, four-year Assistant Coach Bryan Schiding will be taking over as head coach for the Lions.

In his four years at Southern, Schiding has helped athletes earn 13 individual and two relay All-American titles.

Prior to becoming a Lion, Schiding coached six years at Missouri S&T, earning NCAA Division II Men’s Regional Assistant Coach of the Year on two ocassions. In the time he spent at S&T, Schiding built one of the best Division II pole vaulting programs.

Before joining the coaching staff at Missouri S&T, Schiding worked as the assistant coach at LaSalle University in Philadelphia. For the three seasons he was there he coached both the men’s and women’s events, helping lead the team to five Alantic-10 Conference Championships, while his athletes earned 11 new school records.

Another addition to the coaching staff includes throwers Coach Brian Allen.

“We had a really good candidate pool of interviewees for the position and he proved to be the best person for this spot,” said Schiding.

Allen joins the Lions coaching staff with three coaching seasons under his belt, two seasons spent at the University of Central Missouri, and one spent at his alma mater Pittsburg State University.

“Just seeing them reach their potential motivates me,” said Allen, “on a national level or conference level.”

Prior to his coaching career Allen picked up nine All-American titles as a Gorilla. In his time at Pittsburg State University, Allen was a 17-time All-MIAA thrower. He still currently holds the school record in indoor and outdoor shot put, the hammer throw and the weight throw.

Kyle Rosseau has been added to the coaching staff as the assistant coach for distance runners.

“Through the process we were given an intern position,” said Schiding “He’s role is primarily to assist Jamie with the men’s and the women’s distance programs.”

Rosseau comes to Southern with a short coaching history of two years. Most recently Rosseau coached at the McCrossan Boys Ranch in Sioux Falls, S. D. Prior to serving at McCrossan, Rosseau worked as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University for the 2011-2012 season. Rosseau spent the 2010-2011 season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, North Dakota.

As a student-athlete at University of North Dakota, Rosseau excelled academically and as an athlete.

Lastly, Rick Arehart will be added to the Lions coaching staff as an assistant coach helping with sprinters. Arehart joins Southern after working 10 years as a high school coach for Galena High School in Kansas. At Galena, Arehart coached three state champions.

The men’s track team will start the indoor meet later this season.