VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSU) – Valley City State University athletic director Jill DeVries announced today that Daniel Scheff has been hired as head coach of the university’s track and field and cross country programs. 

A former runner at St. Cloud State University, Scheff takes over the Viking programs after five seasons as an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin-Stout, an NCAA Division III school in Menomonie, Wis. He officially starts his duties at VCSU on Monday, Aug. 13.

“We are pleased to welcome Daniel to the Viking family,” said DeVries. “During his time at Stout, Daniel has demonstrated an ability to recruit student-athletes who are successful in the classroom and in competition.”

Scheff was an assistant coach for both the cross country and track and field programs at UW-Stout. He also served as the recruiting coordinator, developing and implementing a nationally successful recruiting campaign. On the track, he specialized in coaching athletes in the sprints, hurdles and relays. While at Stout he coached five national qualifiers and two All-Americans in those events.

Prior to his time at Stout, Scheff was a graduate assistant coach for two years at the University of Northern Colorado, working with student-athletes in all events. From 2007-11, Scheff was head coach of the cross country, track and field and nordic skiing teams at Math and Science Academy in Minnesota. The track and field and skiing programs were brand new teams that Scheff was tasked with starting and building from scratch.

“Daniel’s background coaching at the D-I, D-III and high school levels is a good fit at VCSU,” said DeVries. “During the interview process Daniel demonstrated he understands how to build a program and the caliber of student-athletes necessary to compete at the NSAA and NAIA level.”

Scheff has a master of science degree in sport administration from the University of Northern Colorado. He received a bachelor’s degree in physical education from St. Cloud State University, where he was a student-athlete on the cross country and track and field teams. Scheff has continued to be an active runner, completing 50 marathons during his lifetime.

“VCSU is a thriving university with great academics and athletic programs that are on the rise,” said Scheff. “I’m extremely honored to be the head coach of the cross country and track and field teams. I’m looking forward to making a meaningful impact in the lives of each one of my student-athletes and taking the program to the next level within the North Star Athletic Association and the NAIA.”

The Vikings are coming off a record-breaking season which included 26 school records, eight national qualifiers in 10 events, and two All-Americans. Scheff succeeds Chris Johnson, who departed VCSU after three seasons to become an assistant coach at Tulane University. 

Valley City State University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and a conference member of the North Star Athletic Association.