The second time around: Jason Schutz returns to Washington as Husky throws coach...

SEATTLE--As the 1970s R&B group Shalamar once said, "The second time around...Let's do it again, say it again."

The University of Washington announced Tuesday that Jason Schutz (photo courtesy UW Athletics), who was the throws coach for the Huskies in the 2016-2018 seasons, will return for another stint at Montlake, after spending the last three seasons as the associate head coach in charge of throws at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

"We are very happy to welcome Jason back to Montlake," said Director of Track & Field Maurica Powell and Head Coach Andy Powell. "We are fortunate that Jason has worked with and recruited several athletes on our team prior. The feedback from everyone around his return has been nothing but positive. We look forward to watching our throwers continue to progress and couldn't be more excited for the season that awaits them."

In a text to publisher Paul Merca from Fayetteville, Arkansas, where Maurica Powell is traveling with distance runner Allie Schadler for Friday's Wooo Pig Classic indoor, Powell expressed her excitement over Schutz' return to the UW, noting that he'll have at least two weeks to work with the throws group before the holiday break.

In his first go-round at UW, Schutz coached the Husky throwers from 2016-18, during which time he coached ten different Pac-12 scorers and what at the time was UW's first Pac-12 champion in the throws in over ten years when Carson Fuller won the 2017 javelin title. He also coached Gina Flint to Pac-12 runner-up in the shot put, and Onyie Chibuogwu to Pac-12 runner-up and a school record in the women's hammer. Schutz's athletes posted 17 new marks on the Husky top-10 lists from 2016-18.

He recruited and coached current Husky All-Americans Elijah Mason and Jonah Wilson during their freshman seasons. Mason has won the past two Pac-12 discus titles, and is a two-time NCAA outdoor scorer, while Wilson scored his first NCAA championships point last spring by taking eighth in the shot put. 

Before the Powells took over the Washington program, Mason made the Team USA squad in the discus at the 2018 USA U20 championships when he finished second under Schutz' tutelage in his redshirt season. Mason went on to finish eighth at the World Athletics U20 championships in Tampere, Finland.

MaKayla Kelby also signed during Schutz's first tenure; she went to No. 2 in UW history in the discus last season and took fifth at Pac-12s in both the shot put and discus.

"I am incredibly excited to be back on Montlake working under Maurica and Andy Powell," said Schutz. "The Powells and the staff they've assembled are moving the program in a fantastic direction and I'm excited for Washington throws to play an integral role in the success of the program in the coming years. My family and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be back in Seattle, and to be a part of the future success of Husky Track & Field."

A two-time NCAA scorer in the discus at Colorado State and a 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials participant, Schutz's time before his first stint at Washington included seven years of coaching experience. He spent the 2012-15 seasons at Cal State Northridge; prior to that, he served as an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh for two seasons, and one year as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater.

Schutz is married to Husky alum, former distance runner and director of operations Megan Morgan.

The UW release is available here.

NOTE: The University of Washington sports information office contributed to this report.

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