web Charlotte

July 27, 2009

Charlotte, NC - Charlotte 49ers track and field and cross country head coach Bob Olesen announced the hiring of former 49ers track and field standout Ed Schlichter as cross country and distance coach. Schlichter comes to Charlotte after spending the past two seasons as assistant track and field and cross country coach at the University of South Carolina Upstate.

"I can assure you one could not find any individual meeting the professional needs of this position with more passion and desire to see Charlotte succeed than Ed Schlichter," Olesen said. "His experience and knowledge from training and working under Coach Brad Herbster as a student-athlete and coach will facilitate a smooth transition for the cross country team yet time spent developing his own style and methods while away from Charlotte will provide a unique blend that I am confident will be highly effective in advancing the team towards their individual and team goals."

Schlichter, who replaces Herbster after he left for a position at Clemson, joined the USC Upstate track and field program in the summer of 2007. Schlichter was the recruiting coordinator and distance coach for the USC Upstate track and field program.

Under Schlichter's guidance the USC Upstate cross country and track and field programs had one runner named Atlantic Sun MVP, two runners claimed A-Sun Freshman of the Year honors as well as four runners were A-Sun Conference Champions. In 2008, the cross country program recorded many firsts including the school's first Eye Opener champion and the first men's Atlantic Sun award winner. The cross country program's success carried over into the track and field season as USC Upstate captured the 2008 A-Sun Indoor Championship. Six distance runners earned points for the women's team at the Indoor meet and competing at the A-Sun Outdoor Championships for the first time in the spring, distance runners accumulated 35 of the team's 37 points.

Prior to joining the USC Upstate coaching staff, Schlichter served as assistant coach for the cross country and track and field programs at Charlotte for two years, 2005-07. As assistant coach with the 49ers, he helped lead the men's and women's track squads to the 2006 Atlantic 10 Indoor and Outdoor Track championship. The women's team repeated as indoor and outdoor champions in 2007.

Prior to joining the 49ers coaching staff, Schlichter was a distance runner for the 49ers' cross country and track teams from 2000-05. He had a standout career with the 49ers and ranks among the program's all-time top 10 in several distance categories. He was a seven-time All-Conference selection, earning five awards in track and two in cross country. In 2004, he became the first runner in school history to be named Conference USA Male Athlete of the Year for cross country . He also earned team's Most Valuable Player honors in 2004 for both cross country and track. He helped lead Charlotte to the conference championship in indoor track in 2001 and the league title in cross country in 2002, the first conference championship for both programs in school history.

Schlichter graduated from Charlotte with a degree in English in May, 2005.

"Coming back to my alma mater to coach the sport that I love is a dream come true," Schlichter said. "I'm sad to leave the tremendous athletes, coaches, and friendships that I made at USC Upstate, but, I can't wait to reach some new levels within the team and community here at Charlotte. I'm just so fortunate to be coming back and working within a program that I've poured so much hard work and passion into over the years."