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.
Education
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Bachelor of Arts, Georgetown University (1997)
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Master of Education, American University (May 1999)
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Master of Business Administration, Humboldt State University (July 2016)
