Oregon's New Coach Continues To Build All-Star Coaching Staff With Addition of Throws Coach Brian Bluetreich

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

EUGENE – Jerry Schumacher addressed the media Wednesday and made some of his first public statements about his new role as the Director of Track and Field and Cross Country as a flurry of news about coaching hires reveals the new shape of the program. 

Schumacher, who will serve as both the leader of the Oregon program and maintain his role as the Nike Bowerman Track Club coach, called the prospect "a wonderful opportunity."

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"We want to build off the rich tradition that Oregon has always had," Schumacher said. "This university has, as far as track and field has gone, helped shape the sport in and of itself, for the past 50 years."

Schumacher was the distance coach at his alma mater, Wisconsin, before moving to Beaverton to coach professional runners in 2007. 

Schumacher's coaching staff will include legendary U.S. distance runner Shalane Flanagan, a four-time Olympian and also a coach with th Bowerman Track Club. 

"I've had a chance to work with her in a coaching role for the last few years, and I think she's one of the best-kept secrets out there," Schumacher said. 

And it will include Brian Blutreich, whom Schumacher calls 'Big Blue,' as the the throws coach. Blutreich, who spent the past six years at Arizona State, is a two-time National Assistant Coach of the Year with 28 NCAA titles in 25 years as a college coach. 

In his time at Arizona State, Blutreich coached NCAA record-breakers Maggie Ewen, Turner Washington and Jorinde Van Klinken.  

Blutreich was already set to leave ASU and had accepted a job at Tennessee when he reversed course and went with Oregon instead. 

"Every stop that he's made, from North Carolina to Oklahoma to Arizona State, he's been phenomenal. Flat out outsanding," Schumacher said. "The opportunity to reach out to him and say 'Any chance that we could work together again?' was too good to pass up."

Schumacher and Blutreich were assistant coaches together at North Carolina in the late 1990s. 

One assistant that is staying put is highly respected sprint coach Curtis Taylor, whose efforts over the past decade have turned the Ducks into a sprint power. 

Schumacher said that his 'inbox' is full of inquires from people, some of them perhaps prospective student-athletes, but that he's working quickly to get a lay of the land and meet people in the Eugene track and field community. 

"I'm ready to roll my sleeves up and get to work," Schumacher said.