MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State Athletics will pay tribute to legendary Maverick cross country and track & field hall of fame coach Mark Schuck on Friday, October 27 at 11 a.m. in Myers Fieldhouse. Schuck's name has been synonymous with the program for over four decades.
 
Coach Schuck will be in attendance for the ceremony which also features Dr. Edward Inch, president of Minnesota State University, Mankato, Kevin Buisman, Director of Athletics, and Mike Turgeon, current head coach of Maverick Track & Field.
 
The public is invited to attend and the ceremony is expected to last around 30 minutes. It will involve an unveiling of a sign for the facility in Mark Schuck's honor. The facility, located off of Stadium Road behind the football practice fields has served as the home of Maverick outdoor track & field since 2009 and features a 400 meter track surface, natural grass infield, lights, long jump and triple jump pits, and a pole vaulting area.     
 
Under the steady hand of coach Schuck, the MSU cross country and track and field became one of the most dominant programs in the region and the nation. During his 34-year stint as men's cross country coach (his first season was 1979-80), MSU won nine North Central Conference cross country titles, and one Northern Intercollegiate title. He was named league cross country coach of the year eight times and led the Mavericks to the NCAA Division II cross country national title in 1988. Over his tenure, Minnesota State made 25 NCAA appearances and posted 16 top-10 finishes.
 
Schuck also served as head coach of MSU men's track and field for 15 years and was selected conference indoor coach of the year 10 times and outdoor coach of the year four times. The Mavericks finished second in the nation in 1989 and Schuck garnered selection as national coach of the year during the 2006 indoor season.
 
Coach Schuck served the University in many ways including as the interim Athletic Director, over 25 years as the Student Relations Coordinator for the College of Allied Health, as a physical education instructor, and as assistant track coach. During his coaching years he started and managed hundreds of high school indoor track meets. Coach Schuck provided an opportunity for thousands of boys and girls to compete and experience his beloved Minnesota State.
 
As a student-athlete, Schuck participated in cross country, track & field and basketball and graduated in 1969. He was inducted into the Minnesota State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. From Nicollet, Minnesota, he began his coaching at Mankato Wilson High School, where he also served as athletic director for eight years.
 
"In the world of athletics, there are coaches who train, those who inspire, and then those rare few like Coach Schuck, who leave an indelible mark not just on the track but in the hearts of all they encounter," Turgeon said. "His legacy at MSU Cross Country and Track & Field wasn't just about winning races, but about building a family and community. Through every stride and lap, his influence echoed, bridging the gap between the past, present, and future of the program."
 
People traveling to Minnesota State for the ceremony are encouraged to park in lot 7 (free of charge). For those unable to attend the ceremony, the event will be live-streamed HERE.