ELITE LEVEL COACHING STAFF
Established by legendary Humboldt Hall of Fame coach Jim Hunt, the Humboldt Distance Running Camp is recognized as one of the country's premier developmental opportunities for youth and high school athletes. The camp staff is comprised of some of the most successful and respected coaches in the United States.
In addition to a staff of experienced and highly successful high school, college and national team coaches, Running Camp provides exciting guest speakers. Olympic marathon veteran Mark Conover and National Champion triathlete Mike Pigg have been past keynote speakers. Olympians Leo Manzano, Magdalena Boullet, Kim Conley, Gabe Jennings and Jim Spivey have also been featured visitors.
MICHAEL SCHROER - INTERIM HEAD CROSS COUNTRY COACH
.Michael Schroer was named Interim Head Cross Country Coach and Interim Assistant Track & Field Coach in Spring 2026 after rejoining the Cal Poly Humboldt coaching staff in August 2025 as Assistant Cross Country Coach.
Since returning to Humboldt, Schroer has assisted Coach Sarah Pesch in all aspects of the cross country program, contributing to workout formulation, pacing strategies, and race preparation. His guidance has helped numerous student-athletes achieve personal bests, highlighted by Lex Craven's second-place finish at the San Francisco Invite. Schroer's training philosophy blends individualized athlete development with data-driven pacing strategies and championship-level experience.
Schroer previously served as an Assistant Coach for Humboldt men's middle distance (March 2014–June 2015), collaborating with Coach Pesch to develop the program's middle-distance athletes. During that stint, four key athletes achieved personal best performances and competed strongly at the conference championships. Concurrently, he was an assistant coach at Arcata High School (March 2014–June 2014), where he coached two individuals during the spring season and guided one athlete to the California State Meet in the 800 meters — recording the fastest 800m time by a Humboldt County high school athlete in the previous decade.
Before returning to Humboldt, Schroer built an extensive and decorated coaching résumé at both the high school and international levels. At Seoul American High School (August 2008–June 2010), he served as Assistant Track & Field and Cross Country Coach, designing individualized training programs for more than 50 athletes. He helped lead the program to an unprecedented 69-0 dual meet record and became the first assistant coach in school history to earn "Far East Coach of the Year" honors in 2009. Schroer developed all workouts and race strategies, oversaw team dynamics, guided multiple athletes to U.S. collegiate programs, and coordinated international competition and travel logistics.
Prior to his time overseas, Schroer was the Head Track & Field and Cross Country Coach at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia (August 2001–June 2008). There, he transformed an underperforming program into a nationally ranked powerhouse. He coached multiple All-Americans, a Foot Locker finalist, and a National Track Championship relay team. Schroer led the girls' program to five outdoor league titles and one state championship, along with multiple runner-up finishes. His teams and individuals qualified for the Penn Relays and numerous state championships. He supervised a coaching staff of four and oversaw the daily development of 60 athletes, launched an indoor track program, developed comprehensive winter strength programs, and merged the school's cross country programs in 2004 to enhance cohesion and competitive success.
In addition to his coaching accomplishments, Schroer has enjoyed an extraordinary competitive career. Training independently in Columbia, South Carolina (July 2010–August 2013), he achieved multiple world and national titles, including:
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2011 World Champion (35–39 age group), 800m – 1:57.14
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2011 USATF Indoor Masters Champion (35–39), 800m – 1:56.66
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2010 Sub-Masters World Record Holder, 4x800m relay – 1:54.7 split
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2010 USATF World Record Holder (35–39), 4x800m relay
Schroer is a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier, an eight-time NCAA Division I All-American, three-time High School All-American, and a High School National Champion in the indoor 800m.
He has continued to compete at a high level in masters competition, earning the following honors:
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2017 USATF Indoor (40–45):
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2018 Penn Relays: 4x400m Champion (Masters 40+) – 51.02 split
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2018 Masters (40–45) USA Rankings:
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#3 in the 400m – 51.61
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#3 in the 800m – 2:02.55
Schroer's coaching honors include:
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2009 Far East Coach of the Year
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2008 Washington Post Northern Virginia Girls Outdoor Coach of the Year
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2007 Washington Post Boys Outdoor Coach of the Year
A coach shaped by championship experience at every level — high school, collegiate, international, and masters — Schroer brings a proven record of athlete development, program building, and competitive excellence to Cal Poly Humboldt.
KEVIN SEARLS - HUMBOLDT DISTANCE RUNNING CAMP DIRECTOR
Kevin Searls has been the Humboldt Running Camp Director since 2002.
A graduate of Humboldt State University and former athlete of Humboldt Hall of Fame Coach Jim Hunt, Searls is a two-time NCAA All-American cross-country and track and field athlete. He went on to coach 8 years at the High School level and 12 years at the community college level in Northern California.
Searls is also in his 17th year as the President of the Hoka Aggie Running Club. He remains competitive at the Masters level in both cross country and track, including contributing to the USAT&F Masters Cross-country championship team for 3 consecutive years.
Searls is a member of the College Park High School Hall of Fame.
Searls and his wife, Noreen, are proud parents of their two children, Nolin and Renae.
JOHN MCKENZIE - FORMER NCAA DIVISION 1 COACH
John McKenzie graduated from Texas Christian University in 1964 with a degree in education with an emphasis in mathematics. John went on to coach track and field and cross country for both men and women at University of North Texas and TCU from 1971 to 1996. At those two universities he coached national and world record holders and numerous athletes to NCAA All-American status.
In 1996, after a highly successful collegiate coaching career, John exchanged his role of an athletic coach for the role of a financial coach and is now a senior vice president at Merryll Lynch Wealth Management.
CHRIS WILLIAMS - HIGH SCHOOL COACH
Prior to his tenure at Dublin High School, where he has transformed modest cross country and track programs into annual league and section contenders, Chris Williams made his mark at Skyline High School. Williams orchestrated the rise of one of the best distance groups in Oakland Section history, setting school records in the 4x800, 4x1600 and Distance Medley Relays.
Williams is also an expert in the sprints, hurdles and field events. In 2011 Williams coached Dublin's Keremiah Crockett to a runner up finish in the triple jump at the CIF state championships. In 2014 he coached Mecca McGlaston to the California 100 high hurdle title. McGlaston earned a runner up state meet finish in the event in 2015.
Williams is also the meet director of both the Dublin Distance Fiesta and the Northern California Frosh Soph Championships.
CHUCK WOOLRIDGE - HIGH SCHOOL COACH
Chuck Woolridge coached the College Park High School cross county and track teams for 13 years, from 1994 through 2006. During that time his squads won 2 cross country state titles, 9 North Coast Section titles and numerous league crowns. He also helped guide Lindsay Allen to a high school steeplechase national record.
In 2006 Woolridge began his tenure at Campolindo High School, where he continues to coach today. The Cougars have won 7 CIF and 19 NCS cross country titles since his arrival. In 2023 his girls' squad finished 13th at NXN. He coached both Carrie Verdon and Aidan Goltra to back to back individual cross country state wins. He guided Carrie Verdon, Toni Finnane, and Shea Volkmer to the Footlocker National Finals. Campolindo alumnus Thomas Joyce, who ran 4:10 for 1600m under Woolridge, went on to run sub 4:00 for that distance and set the Cal Berkeley school record in the 1500m.
Woolridge is a member of both the North Coast Section cross country and track & field management committees and serves as the meet director for both the NCS cross country and track & field championships. He is also the meet director of the annual Ed Sias cross country invitational.
Woolridge is a member of the College Park High School Hall of Fame.
