Wittenberg University Logo
Campus Directory | A-Z Index



 
ncac
 
Cross Country
redline

Coaching Staff

Head Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Steve Shutt
Head Coach: Steve Shutt
Office: (937) 327-6493
Email: sshutt@wittenberg.edu
Postal Address:
Wittenberg University
P.O. Box 720
Springfield, Ohio 45501
Package Shipping Address:
Wittenberg University
225 Fountain Ave.
Springfield, Ohio 45504

Steve Shutt took over the coaching reins of the Wittenberg men's and women's cross country and track & field teams in 1999. Before resigning in 2006 to take the same position at Gettysburg College, Shutt regularly put the teams in position for North Coast Athletic Conference championships.

Since 2000, 10 Tiger runners have earned NCAA Division III Coaches Association All-Academic recognition, five have made first-team all-conference, two have earned second-team All-NCAC recognition and three have made honorable mention all-conference. In addition, four runners have made All-Great Lakes Region teams and Abi Gerstle became the first Wittenberg athlete to ever qualify for the NCAA Division III National Championships. She finished 122nd at the 2000 meet in Spokane, Wash. and then she followed that performance up with an NCAC individual title in 2001 on her way to a second straight appearance in the NCAA meet. In 2002, she continued to show improvement with another NCAC individual title, all-region selection and NCAA championship appearance. She finished 56th in the nation.

Under Shutt, Wittenberg's track & field teams set more than 40 men's and women's school records. Sixteen athletes were NCAC champions in track (multiple times in several cases) and one in cross country, dozens earned All-NCAC honors, eight were NCAA Division III national qualifiers (multiple times in several cases), 13 were Coaches Association Academic All-Americans and numerous NCAC Athlete of the Year designations were earned under Shutt's direction.

A 1994 graduate of Allegheny College with degrees in physics and psychology, Shutt was a four-year letterwinner for the Gators' indoor and outdoor track and field squads, earining all-conference honors in the pole vault. Shutt came to Wittenberg after serving as an assistant coach at Hillsdale College, where he also served as director of the intramural program. While at Hillsdale, Shutt coached several national qualifiers and an All-American.

Shutt also served as a graduate assistant coach at Slippery Rock University. While at SRU he studied exercise science, and worked numerous camps and clinics involving such events as men's and women's pole vault, high jump, javelin, multi-events and cross country. In addition, Shutt is an instructor for USATF Level I coaching schools and a Level II coach in the endurance events, jumps and throws.

Assistant Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Ralph Bergdoll
Assistant Coach: Ralph Bergdoll

Ralph Bergdoll became part of the Wittenberg men's and women's cross country and track and field coaching staff in 2000 after more than 40 years of coaching in the Dayton area. A graduate of West Virginia Weslyan and Xavier University, Bergdoll is also certified in Level I and II with the USTAF and is Level I instructor.

As a scholastic coach Bergdoll has experience with both cross-country and track programs. For 10 consecutive years (1990-1999), he had competitors qualify for the OHSAA State track meet. In 1988 Bergdoll was inducted in the Ohio Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame. He has served many years as a meet manager and has conducted four Level I schools for USATF



Men's Cross Country Home Page

Women's Cross Country Home Page



 
Copyright 2007 Wittenberg University Post Office Box 720 Springfield, Ohio 45501 800-677-7558
Non-discriminatory Policy      Web Use Policy & Disclaimer      Privacy Policy
© 2007 Wittenberg University