UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Karl Schier, a decorated combat veteran, NCAA champion gymnast and former Penn State men's gymnastics coach, died Sunday. He was 85.
Prior to 15 seasons as a highly-successful head coach at Penn State, Schier excelled as a student-athlete for the Nittany Lions men's gymnastics team. He was a 14-time All-American, earning the honor in six different events. The captain of the 1955 team closed his collegiate career on a high note, becoming just the third gymnast in program history to win the NCAA all-around title.
Schier earned a spot on the 1956 USA Olympic Team and made the trip to Melbourne, Australia, but was forced to serve as the designated alternate because of an ankle injury during trial competition.
After his graduation in 1956, Schier was commissioned via ROTC as an Air Force 2nd lieutenant. He graduated from the Air Force Jet Engine Pilot Training School with a Formation Flying Award in 1958 before flying combat-ready air refueling KC-135's in Strategic Air Command squadrons for six years. It was then that be began his coaching career, taking over the Air Force Academy men's gymnastics team in 1964. His time with the program spanned 12 years and included four NCAA top-eight teams.
Coaching was just one responsibility Schier had while at Air Force and certainly wasn't the most important. During that time, he was awarded two Air Force Commendation Medals. Schier volunteered for duty in Vietnam in 1968, flying U-10's in an Air Commando squadron. That year he flew 162 combat missions and was awarded eight Air Medals, the Bronze Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1976.
Schier, who earned a master's degree in education from the University of Colorado in 1974, returned to Penn State as head coach of the men's gymnastics team in 1977, just over 20 years after he graduated from the school. He led the Nittany Lions to 14 top-10 finishes nationally, including six years in the top three. He guided the team to a runner-up performance in his final season as head coach in 1991.
But Schier's impact with Penn State men's gymnastics wasn't finished. He was instrumental in the hiring of the next head coach, Randy Jepson, who took over in 1991 and is now entering his 28th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions.
"I was so sorry to hear of the passing of my mentor and predecessor at Penn State, Karl Schier," Jepson said. "It is difficult to put into words the profound impact that he had on my life. When Oregon announced that they would be dropping the men's gymnastics program of which I was a team member, Karl was there for me and extended an opportunity to me to finish my career as a Nittany Lion. Little did I know that his offer would redirect the course of my life. He asked me to stay at Penn State and join him as a graduate assistant coach while I pursued a master's degree. Upon the completion of my Master's, he once again offered me a job as his full-time assistant coach. And then, upon his retirement, he endorsed me as his successor to lead the program. Karl was a one-of-a-kind thinker who taught me to think out of the box. His innovative approach yielded remarkable results, especially with pommel horse legends like Mark Sohn, Bill Stanley, and Tom Ladman. I never tired of his stories and vast knowledge of the history of the sport. Even more, I greatly respected his service and sacrifice for our country as an Air Force veteran. Few know that he spent much of his coaching career and later life physically impaired from his many hours of flying in service for his country. He was a true warrior as a veteran, coach, and friend and he will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace."
During his time at Penn State, Schier coached three gymnasts to a combined seven national titles in individual events, including four championships on the pommel horse by Sohn. Even in retirement, Schier coached Sohn as he made the finals of the World Championships in France in 1993 and again in Australia in 1994.
Schier's additional coaching accolades are numerous, including a gold medal as the head coach of the USA men's team at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City. He was the head coach of the 1976 Olympic Team that won the U.S.'s first individual medal – a bronze by Peter Korman – in the sport in 44 years. He was also the USA coach for the University World Games in Bulgaria in 1977, the USA team at the Romanian Invitational in 1979, and the USA team at the Hapoel Games in Israel in 1981. Following all of those accomplishments, he was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1982.
Schier was the recipient of the Honor Coach Award in 1990. The recipient of that award is selected each year by the Honor Coach Award Committee by secret ballot, and it's considered by many to be the most prestigious of all gymnastics coaching awards.
Schier is survived by his son Kurt Karl Schier and his grandson, Alik Altyn Schier, who live in Washington, D.C.
His remains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery later this year at a date to be determined. There will be a public ceremony at that time. The family will provide details when available.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Rosemount Center in Washington, D.C.