Priscilla Schultz, associate head coach for cross country and assistant coach for track and field, spoke about her new role leading the Milwaukee Panthers distance program in an interview published on Apr. 21.
Schultz brings experience as an elite runner to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s women’s cross country team, which has secured multiple Horizon League titles according to the official website. She said her holistic approach focuses on both athletic performance and personal growth: “It’s holistic in that I prioritize not only their physical being, but also their mental being. There are many factors that contribute to becoming a great distance runner in terms of the mental approach and the positive self-talk. My philosophy is to hit all those factors that help build that distance runner but also be their mentor.”
When asked what drew her to Milwaukee, Schultz said, “It is a great opportunity to work with both genders as the head cross country coach. The city itself provides so much, and there is so much happening in the area. It’s close to family, so that obviously was an easy move for me.” She emphasized building strong relationships with athletes by calling each one after being hired: “My first priority was getting to know my athletes…I got to know them well, how they think, and how they operate.”
The Milwaukee Panthers Women’s Cross Country Team holds its home meets in Milwaukee, Wisconsin according to the official website. The team operates out of Milwaukee and is affiliated with both the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Horizon League according to information from its official site.
Schultz described her recruiting priorities: “I’m recruiting not only an athlete, but a person…You want a good teammate, a team player, someone who is coachable.” She highlighted academic balance as central: “Academics are absolutely a priority…We want them to graduate, get a degree…That’s the fun part of seeing your athlete’s graduate.”
She reflected on adapting training between climates after moving from Arizona: “In colder weather you can layer up and still manage to train outside…In Wisconsin we experience all four seasons,” she said.
The team’s mascot is Pounce the Panther according to its official website.
Looking ahead at success for her first year with Milwaukee’s program Schultz said: “Success is seeing progress…Ultimately success is about the team getting better day by day and week by week while building a strong foundation for the future.”
