Head Coach Darin Schmitz Hometown: Salina, Ks College: University of Kansas Undergraduate Degree: Earth and Space Science Middle/Secondary Education Graduate Degree: MSEd Science Curriculum '04 Years as NCCC Head Coach: 6 Coaching Career: Graduating in 1999 he coached at the high school ranks for Lawrence High, De Soto High, and Eudora High ending with multiple school record holders and state medalists. In 2001 he began the USATF club Kansas Thunder and has had multiple throwing All-Americans and national leaders in the javelin.  He has been trained and taught by legendary coaches and world record holders.
Coach Schmitz is entering his sixth year as Head Coach of the Panthers coming from a prestigious background in track and field. He was a high school All-American in the shot put and held both Salina Sacred Heart High School's shot put and discus records. As a multi-time state medalist he entered the historic track program of Kansas University. Under a long line of historic throwers Schmitz left his own niche. As a Jayhawk he ranked as high as 2nd on the all-time hammer list and third on the all-time weight throw list. He was a two time All-Big XII athlete and a conference medalist. In 2001 he was ranked nationally by Track and Field News in the hammer throw. In his five years as head coach at Neosho County Coach Schmitz had 137 national qualifiers, 51 conference champions, 75 All-Americans, and five National Champions. The team finished the 2009 campaign with a second in conference  indoor and second place conference finish in outdoor track.  The Panthers finished the season with 48 top 20 rankings in the nation. The women finished the season with a 20th  place national finish indoors and an 25th place outdoor finish.  The men finished the season with a 10th place indoor finish and a 13th place outdoor finish.  He has a lifetime 92% graduation rate of his outgoing sophomores and has had 8 NJCAA Coach's academic team of the year. Coach Schmitz was named the 2008 and 2009 Region VI Outdoor Coach of the Year which was voted on by his peers.  In 2009 he was named one of the top emerging elite coaches in the country by the USATF and has had multiple articles published about the throws.  Darin received his Masters Degree from the University of Kansas in 2004 in Science Curriculum. He is married to Kelcey and has two children, a daughter Emilly, and a son Drew