Paul Schmaedeke

Paul Schmaedeke leads the Pipers as the director of track and field operations at Hamline. His responsibilities include serving as the head men's and women's cross country coach, head men's track and field coach and working with all middle-distance and distance runners on the track. 

Schmaedeke has served as head coach of the men's cross country team for the last 20 seasons. In all, he has spent 30 years in the Hamline athletic program as an athlete and coach.  As a head coach, Schmaedeke has coached 17 All-Americans. 

In 2006, Schmaedeke was named ‘Coach of the Year’ for the Midwest Region in cross country after his runners took the team title and earned another trip to the NCAA Championship meet.

In 2007 on the track, the Piper distance runners continued their strong tradition with seniors Travis Bristow and Chris Yotter leading the way.  Schmaedeke led Bristow to MIAC titles in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs indoors.  Yotter was not far behind, taking the runner up spot in both events.  Along with Bristow and Yotter, Murphy and Steinbrecher rounded out Hamline’s top runners, finishing 1-2-3-6 at the indoor MIAC Championship meet in the 5,000 meter. Yotter finished his senior year strong while going on to hit the NCAA provisional mark in the 10,000 meters outdoors and earning yet another All-MIAC finish. Schmaedeke also led Bristow strong finish during the outdoor, with an improvement of his own school record in the steeple-chase, while also earning his second straight NCAA Championship appearance and another All-MIAC performance.  In 2006, Bristow was Hamline’s first ever All-American in the event.

During the 2006 cross country season, Schmaedeke’s distance runners won the Mid-West Region Championship meet and earned their second trip to the NCAA Championship meet in as many years.  In 2005, his cross country team won the MIAC championship for the first time since 1977.  They were the first Hamline team in any sport to win the conference since 1988.  That same team went on to a third place regional finish and advanced to the NCAA championship meet where they placed seventh in the country.

Schmaedeke has earned "Coach of the Year" honors four times in the MIAC.  Most recently, he was honored twice in the same calendar year, when he was named 2005 MIAC Indoor Coach of the Year, and followed that up in the fall of 2005 when he was named MIAC Men's Cross-Country Coach of the Year.  In 2002, he was named the Central Region Coach of the Year for the indoor season, as well as MIAC Coach of the Year. His team was second at the MIAC Indoor Championships with a team record 133 points.

Prior to joining Hamline, Schmaedeke served as head boys' track and field coach at Concordia Academy High School from 1978-79. He holds a Level II USA Track and Field Coaching Education certification. He has spoken numerous times at Minnesota High School Coaches Clinics.

As an athlete at Hamline, Schmaedeke's teams won two MIAC cross country titles and four MIAC track and field championships. He was selected co-captain of the cross country team during his senior season.

In recognition of his accomplishments as a student-athlete and a coach, Schmaedeke was inducted into the Hamline University Athletic Hall of Fame in January, 2008.

Schmaedeke earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Hamline in 1977. He received his master's degree in physical education from the University of Arizona in 1980.