CHARLESTON – Charleston Southern Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Jim Stintzi, announced the hiring of Karl Thiessen as the new assistant track & field/cross country coach to work primarily with the women's distance runners. He joins the Buccaneers after a stellar career at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a professional career with Asics GTC Elite.
 
"I am humbled and excited to begin my collegiate coaching career at Charleston Southern University," said Thiessen. "I would like to thank God, Coach Stintzi, the coaching staff and the rest of the athletic department for giving me the opportunity to assist and help develop the women's distance group."
 
During his time in Knoxville, he earned three All-SEC selections and All-Region awards, becoming one of the top runners in the South. His best finish at the SEC Championships came in the 2020 season where he finished in 11^th. Additionally, he qualified for the NCAA National Championships twice, racing in it during the falls of 2021 and 2022. During the track and field seasons, he competed as a 5K/10K runner and scored six times.
 
Away from the course, he served as the SAAC representative for the squad for four seasons as well. He was seen as one of the team leaders, earning the title of team captain as voted on by his teammates and coaches for the Volunteers' cross country.
 
"We are excited to add Karl to our staff," said Stintzi." I believe his experience as a high-level runner at Tennessee and on the professional level will help our student-athletes and our track and cross country teams rise to another level!"
 
Thiessen spent the past year as a member of Asics GTC Elite (Greenville Track Club). One of the highlights of his year came in the US 10K championships in Newport, New Jersey where he took 11^th overall in the star-studded field. He also worked with Blue Collar Endurance Training where he wrote training schedules for up-and-coming athletes and oversaw the development of over 15 athletes per month.
 
He has already arrived on campus and begun his work with the team ahead of their season opening meet in the CSU Buccaneer Open this Friday, August 30. The morning will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the women's 5K followed by the men's 6K at 9:45 a.m. to completed.