Conway, SC – Atlantic Collegiate Academy has announced the hiring of
Chad Schildt as the school's new Head Baseball Coach, bringing an accomplished educator, coach, and former collegiate baseball player to lead the ACA baseball program.
Schildt joins ACA with more than 15 years of experience in education and coaching, including head baseball coaching positions at Statesboro High School in Georgia and Battery Creek High School in South Carolina, as well as a co-head coaching role at Laurel High School in Mississippi. He has also served in numerous athletic leadership roles and has taught history and other social studies courses throughout his career.
The search for ACA's next head baseball coach generated significant interest from across the region.
"We were fortunate to attract an elite group of candidates for this job," ACA Director of Athletics
Douglas Leichner said. "The sheer volume and quality of interest reflect the prominence of our program and the high standards we hold here at ACA. We are deeply grateful to everyone who expressed interest in leading our team."
After a thorough search, Leichner said Schildt distinguished himself through his vision for developing the complete student-athlete.
"What made Coach Schildt the ideal choice was his complete focus on the whole student-athlete," Leichner said. "Of course, we want to win games, but Coach Schildt brought a philosophy that prioritizes turning these young men into disciplined, accountable, and confident leaders prepared for whatever comes next in life."
Leichner added that Schildt's approach to program culture and accountability aligned closely with ACA's athletic department values.
"Great programs aren't built overnight, they're built on consistency, high expectations, and doing the little things right every single day," Leichner said. "Coach Schildt showed us he understands how to build that foundation through how we practice, how we handle adversity, and how we represent our school when nobody is watching."
Schildt also brings a clear philosophy regarding the distinction between rules, expectations, and standards.
"Coach Schildt brought a powerful perspective on the difference between rules, expectations, and standards," Leichner said. "Rules tell you what to do, but standards are what you choose to hold yourself to when you want to build something extraordinary. That mindset is exactly what we want defining our program, our school, and our community."
For Schildt, the opportunity to lead ACA baseball represents both an honor and a responsibility.
"I'm incredibly honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as the Head Baseball Coach at Atlantic Collegiate Academy," Schildt said. "This is a responsibility I don't take lightly. I'm grateful for the trust that has been placed in me, and I'm ready to get to work building on what has already been established while creating a program our players, families, school, and community can be proud of."
A central part of Schildt's coaching philosophy is relationship-building.
"My biggest priority will always be our players," Schildt said. "Coaching, to me, starts with relationships. I want to know our guys beyond what they can do on a baseball field, who they are, what motivates them, what challenges them, and what they want for their futures."
Schildt has established a career focused on both student development and athletic achievement. As a coach, he has helped produce more than 250 players who have gone on to play college or professional baseball, along with four region championships, three district championships, two Lower State runner-up finishes, more than 25 All-Region selections, three All-State players, and two MLB Draft picks. He has also been recognized as a three-time Coach of the Year nominee.
As an educator, Schildt has been a four-time Teacher of the Year nominee, mentor teacher, L.E.A.D. Teacher, student-teacher host, and district blended-learning specialist. His educational leadership experience includes serving as a department chair, assistant athletic director, leadership-team member, and athletic director.
Schildt is no stranger to ACA. He currently teaches U.S. History and Constitution Honors, Government Honors, and Career Planning 1 at the school.
His own educational journey began at Francis Scott Key High in Westminster, MD, where he was a three-sport athlete in baseball, basketball, and football. He earned numerous athletic and academic honors, including three All-State selections in baseball, four All-Region baseball selections, three All-Region basketball selections, an All-Region football selection, and four All-State Academic Team selections while maintaining a 3.95 GPA. He was also a two-time Who's Who All-American in baseball.
Schildt went on to play Division I baseball at Mount St. Mary's University, where he earned two Northeast Conference Freshman of the Week honors and twice made the Dean's List. He graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Education. He later earned graduate degrees in Teacher Leadership from the University of Phoenix in 2011 and Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University in 2015.
Schildt said his decision to pursue education and coaching grew from his own experiences as a student and athlete.
"I wasn't always the best student in school," Schildt said. "I got good grades, but I didn't think my teachers really got us. I really didn't think any of my teachers really cared about me when I was in school. I really thought there was a better way to teach and do things."
His experience with coaches helped shape the educator and coach he would become.
"I thought if you can teach the way my coaches coach, more students would like school," he said. "So, after I attempted to play some pro baseball, I decided to give teaching a chance. I loved being around sports and coaching but wanted to teach as well. I believed the way I coach could translate to the classroom."
That philosophy continues to guide his approach to both teaching and coaching.
"By integrating relationship building, practical teaching methods, and student empowerment, this approach creates an environment where students not only learn but feel motivated to take charge of their education," Schildt said.
Schildt said his goals for ACA baseball extend well beyond wins and losses.
"We are going to have high expectations for this program. We want to compete. We want to win. We want to develop players who are prepared to play baseball beyond high school," Schildt said. "But our responsibility is bigger than baseball."
"My goal is for every young man who comes through this program to leave Atlantic Collegiate Academy better than when he arrived, not only as a baseball player, but as a student, teammate, leader, and young man."
Schildt emphasized that building a championship-level culture begins with daily habits.
"I believe successful programs are built through consistency, accountability, relationships, and doing the little things right every day," he said. "There is a difference between rules, expectations, and standards. Rules tell us what we can and cannot do. Expectations guide our daily routines. Standards are what we hold ourselves to when we aspire to do something special.
"I want our players to understand that we aren't simply trying to meet expectations, we're building a program with a standard of excellence."
Schildt is a native of Westminster, MD, and is the son of Robert and Sharon Schildt. He is married to Nicole Schildt, a freelance writer and stay-at-home mother, and the couple has six children: Hartley, 20; Easton, 12; Cayson, 8; Layton, 6; Hadley-Grace, 3; and Calon, 2.
He said his family – and in particularly his grandmother, whom he called Mammaw – helped shape the values he brings to his work.
"She was a calming voice, a voice of reason, the glue that kept our family together and was the most selfless person I knew until I met my wife," Schildt said. "She showed me and my family what it meant to love someone unconditionally and to always be there for them."
Schildt said he was drawn to ACA because of the school's reputation, its approach to education, and the opportunity for teachers and students to be actively involved in their school community.
"I heard of how great things are," Schildt said. "The way the administration allows the teachers to be innovative and involved in their content. The amount of positive things that the faculty was saying about the school and students. It is a very common-sense approach to education and I love everything I heard."
As he begins his tenure leading ACA baseball, Schildt said his message to the players and families is straightforward.
"To our players and families, I want you to know that this program is in good hands," Schildt said. "Every decision we make will be centered around what is best for our players and the long-term success of Atlantic Collegiate Baseball.
"We are going to work hard, communicate, hold each other accountable, celebrate our successes, learn from our failures, and represent ACA the right way."
Leichner said the school is excited to welcome Schildt into the leadership of the baseball program.
"This opening generated an incredible amount of interest from across the region, which speaks volumes about the prominence, reputation, and high expectations of our baseball program," Leichner said. "We appreciate the outstanding core of interested candidates who pursued this position, but throughout a thorough search, Coach
Chad Schildt clearly stood out."
Schildt, meanwhile, is ready to begin the next chapter.
"I couldn't be more excited about what lies ahead," he said. "We have an opportunity to build something special here, and I'm grateful to have the chance to lead it.
"It's time to get to work."
About Atlantic Collegiate Academy: Atlantic Collegiate Academy (ACA), located in Conway, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while also earning up to two years of college credit. ACA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10 grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades.
Learn more about ACA by visiting our website at AtlanticCollegiate.Academy and by following us on social media on Facebook, Instagram and X.
