BEREA, OHIO --  Baldwin Wallace University Head Track and Cross Country Coach Bill Taraschke has hired Eric Schmuhl, a 2005 graduate of the college and former track & field student-athlete, as assistant coach for the men's track & field program.   Schmuhl joins a Yellow Jacket track program that is one of the best in Ohio. 

"We are pleased that Eric Schmuhl is joining our staff at Baldwin Wallace University and know that he will be a great asset to our track program and student-athletes," said Taraschke, who will enter his 25th season as head coach. "Eric was an outstanding competitor in college and is quickly becoming an excellent teacher and coach."

Schmuhl, who earned an undergraduate degree in education at BW and will earn a Master's of Education degree this summer from Muskingum College, returns to the College after spending the past year as a graduate assistant coach for track and cross country at Muskingum. In addition to his coaching duties, he assisted in recruiting and strength and conditioning. 

Prior to coaching at the collegiate level, Schmuhl was an assistant coach for track and cross country at his high school alma mater, Medina Senior High School in Medina, Ohio for four years. He first served as a volunteeer coach for three seasons and then was hired fulltime for the 2006-2007 academic year.  While at Medina Senior, Schmuhl coached several Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I State qualifiers and All-Ohio athletes in track and cross country.  Schmuhl also has served as an organizational trustee and clinic instructor for the Greater Medina Track Club since 2006.

Schmuhl, a 2001 graduate of Medina Senior High School, was a 2001 OHSAA State qualifier in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and a two-year team captain in track.

At BW, Schmuhl ran four years of indoor and outdoor track under Taraschke. He was an NCAA Division III National qualifier for outdoor track in 2004 and 2005 and the 2004 OAC champion in 400-meter intermediate hurdles.  He was also a seven-time All-OAC honoree, a 2005 honorable mention Academic All-OAC selection and a three-time Vance Carter Award Winner as the Most Outstanding Male Hurdler.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact BW Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.  To contact Head Coach Bill Taraschke, please call him at 440-826-3322 or e-mail him at wtarasch@bw.edu. You can get all of the latest BW athletics information by visiting our Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics.