Cody Schultz ’12 has fond memories from his time at Carroll which included four years on the football team and studying communications with an emphasis on public relations. After several years of coaching and recruitment at a few colleges, he has completed a full year at Wayland Academy as the Athletic Director, Head Football, Head Powerlifting, and Throws Coach, where he helps athletes prepare for life beyond high school.
When he met Alanna Schuett at his first summer strength and speed event for Wayland Academy athletics, Schultz recalls that if every athlete was as hard working and talented as Schuett then he’d certainly be part of a competitive program. “I have had the pleasure of working with Alanna in throwing and powerlifting. She is a great kid who will do amazing in college!”
Schuett comes to Carroll undecided but is intrigued in a few health sciences majors with physical therapy and nursing as front runners. Her reasoning for choosing Carroll? “I felt very welcomed and since I’m not one to learn in big lecture halls I could see myself at Carroll as a place to fit in and try new things,” said Schuett.
It helps that Schuett had a mentor and Carroll promoter in Schultz, “I had an experience [at Carroll] where I felt like I fit in, and it is where I fell in love with coaching.” He suffered an injury outside of football during the summer following his freshman year that did not allow him to participate his sophomore year. Instead of sitting on the sidelines the coaching staff created a position for Schultz where he found a passion in coaching and started learning to “adapt and overcome” from Coach K, which would become the tenet of Schultz’s coaching. The football coaches taught him a life lesson of generosity and to be a gentleman and a scholar. He also recalls the beloved lunch ladies, Gert, who remembered his name and, Linda, who often had his order ready as he arrived to 7:00 a.m. breakfast.
Schultz knew that Carroll would be that same welcoming place for Schuett but let her write out her own “pro/con” list. It was only later that Schuett found out that Schultz also met his wife, Claire (Liska) Schultz ’13, at Carroll, which she loved knowing. One of the “pro’s” that made the list later was Schultz referring Schuett for the Hilger Tradition Award which is a $500 renewable scholarship for each of the four years that students attend. Schultz joked that Schuett already owes him $2,000.
Schuett is looking forward to starting in the fall and as she awaits her roommate and housing information, she is anticipating making more connections on campus and having her own Carroll experience to tell others about.