What a perfect fit! Jerry Schumacher, honored as NCAA Coach of the Year in 2005 after his U.W. cross-country team won the national collegiate championship, is returning as Executive Spokesman and Grand Marshal of Jerry’s Race Against Childhood Diseases!
A native of Waukesha, Schumacher, 34, competed at Wisconsin from 1988 to ,1993 and was a three-time All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection in cross country and track. After graduation and serving as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina, Schumacher returned to Madison as an assistant to his predecessor, Martin Smith, before taking over the program as head coach in 1998, achieving unprecedented success.
In his nine seasons at the helm, Wisconsin has never finished lower than sixth at the NCAA championships, finishing sixth in his first year of 1998, fifth in 2000 and 2001, second in 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004 before taking home the national championship in 2005. The Badgers have won the Big Ten title for an unprecedented seven consecutive years and Jerry was named conference coach of the year after each championship.
Jerry has coached many very successful long distance individuals including Simon Bairu, Matt Tegenkamp, Matt Dowin, Jason Vanderhoof and Chris Solinsky, all of them all-Big Ten and All-American performers. Tegenkamp and Solinsky both recently broke the four-minute mile barrier, the first Wisconsin athletes to accomplish that feat which was performed on the 52nd anniversary of Sir Roger Bannister’s historical run.
Jerry and his wife, Kathy, live in McFarland with their four children.
Jerry says he is enthusiastic about his role in the annual event at Verona’s Festival Park and Military Ridge Course. “Wisconsin is a ‘running state’ loaded with good distance runners who love the sport for health, recreation and the personal competitive challenge. I am pleased that Jerry’s Race has created this unique experience for runners which in turn will raise much more money to fight childhood disease,” Jerry said.
“Jerry Schumacher and Jerry Lewis go well together raising funds to fight childhood disease, a perfect team for Jerry’s Race,” Francois says. The four 5k/10k winners will receive their engraved 22-inch traveling trophies on the annual Labor Day Jerry Lewis Telethon on WKOW-TV.
