Gerhard Skall is in his 13th season as assistant field events coach in 2017-18.
He moved to Maine in 1984 from his home country of Austria where he grew up in the town of Salzburg (where the classic movie "The Sound of Music" was made ).
Coach Skall was a National level decathlete in Austria. He graduated from the University of Salzburg with his B.S. degree in 1979, followed by his M.S. degree in Physical Education in 1981.
Prior to college he joined the Austrian Army and holds the rank of Lieutenant.
Prior to moving to the U.S.A. he taught physical education and geography at a local high school and coached track and field, gymnastics and volleyball.
His first American coaching duties were as a Head Gymnastics Coach at the Penobscot Valley School of Gymnastics in Bangor, Maine, and also as the assistant track and field coach at Orono high school. He then took over as head coach at Orono (succeeding long time great head coach Cliff McCormick when he retired).
In 2005 Coach Skall moved to the University of Maine to assist in coaching the field events. His primary duties have been assisting with the throwers and helping in jumping events as needed.
He utilizes his great experience with the European coaching methods and expertise necessary in providing excellence in coaching, teaching and improving the athletes' skills and success. He works quite well with the other coaches on staff, in a team approach. With Skall's assistance the throwers have continued to improve greatly in their personal bests, competition performances, and in their character development.
He retired from teaching Physical Education at Caravel Middle School in Carmel, Maine in 2012 after teaching there for 25 years. Since then has been serving as the full-time Assistant Coach for Throws and pole vault for the men's and women's track and field team.
Skall's four children all graduated from college in the last 10 years and have successful careers in the business world.
