Val Schierling is known as one of the most successful athletes ever to run track for Emporia State University.  During his collegiate career, Schierling won four Central Intercollegiate Conference hurdle championships, and he set school records in the 120-yard high hurdles, 440-yard and 400-meter intermediate hurdles, and the indoor 600-yard run.  Schierling also was a member of the two-mile relay team that set a school record in 1968.  He was named a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American in 1967 and 1968.  Schierling placed 12th in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1968 U.S. Olympic Trials.  He also won the  400-meter intermediate hurdle championship at the Canadian Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Championships in 1968 and at the Philippine AAU National Championships in 1969.  Schierling continues his association with ESU as head coach of women’s basketball since 1981.  He is the winningest women’s basketball coach in school history, winning more that 60 percent of his games entering the 1990-91 season.