Chad Schildt serves as the Head Baseball Coach at Atlantic Collegiate Academy, where he also teaches U.S. History and Constitution Honors, Government Honors, and Career Planning 1. A lifelong baseball enthusiast, accomplished educator, and experienced coach, Schildt is passionate about helping students and athletes reach their potential both on and off the field.
Schildt brings more than 15 years of experience in education and coaching to ACA. Throughout his career, he has served as a history teacher, department chair, mentor teacher, assistant athletic director, athletic director, and head baseball coach at schools in South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi.
Before joining Atlantic Collegiate Academy, Schildt served as a teacher, head baseball coach, and assistant athletic director at Statesboro High School in Georgia. Prior to that, he taught history and coached at Battery Creek High School in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he served as head baseball coach, assistant athletic director, and mentor teacher. His previous experience also includes serving as co-head baseball coach at Laurel High School in Mississippi and holding numerous teaching and athletic leadership positions in Horry and Charleston County schools.
Over the course of his coaching career, Schildt has helped more than 250 players advance to college or professional baseball. His teams have captured four region championships and three district championships, while also earning two Lower State runner-up finishes. His players have earned more than 25 All-Region selections and three All-State selections, and two of his players have gone on to be selected in the MLB Draft. Schildt 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. He has developed curriculum, led academic departments, served on school leadership teams, and worked extensively in student-athlete development and school culture.
Schildt attended Francis Scott Key High School in Westminster, MD, where he was a three-sport athlete at the school, competing in baseball, basketball, and football. During his high school career, he earned three All-State selections in baseball, four All-Region baseball selections, three All-Region basketball selections, and one All-Region football selection. He was also named to the All-State Academic Team four times with a 3.95 GPA and was a two-time Who's Who All-American in baseball.
He continued his baseball career at the NCAA Division I level at Mount St. Mary's University, where he earned Northeast Conference Freshman of the Week honors twice and was named to the Dean's List twice. 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's philosophy as an educator and coach is centered on relationships, consistency, accountability, and student empowerment. He believes that successful coaching begins with getting to know each player as an individual—not simply for what they can contribute on the baseball field, but for who they are, what motivates them, what challenges them, and what they hope to accomplish in life.
His goal is to develop student-athletes who are prepared for success beyond high school.
“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 believes great programs are built through daily habits and a commitment to high standards. His approach emphasizes doing the little things right, communicating effectively, embracing accountability, and learning from both success and adversity.
His passion for education comes in part from his own experiences as a student. After pursuing opportunities to continue playing professional baseball, Schildt chose to enter education because he wanted to combine his love of athletics with his desire to make a meaningful difference in students' lives. He believes many of the principles that make great coaches effective—including relationships, encouragement, accountability, empowerment, and clear expectations—can also create powerful classrooms.
Schildt describes his teaching style as being built around four key components: relationship building, common-sense teaching, student empowerment, and student-led instruction. His goal is to create an engaging classroom where students feel known, challenged, and empowered to take ownership of their education.
For Schildt, the most rewarding part of teaching and coaching is seeing students and athletes grow into confident, capable individuals.
“Teaching and coaching isn't just a job; it's a chance to shape the future, one person at a time,” Schildt said.
Outside of school and baseball, family is at the center of Schildt's life. He is married to Nicole Schildt, a freelance writer and stay-at-home mother, and they have six children: Hartley, Easton, Cayson, Layton, Hadley-Grace, and Calon.
Schildt was born in Westminster, Maryland, and is the son of Robert and Sharon Schildt. He credits his grandmother, whom he affectionately called “Mammaw,” as one of the most influential people in his life, describing her as the calming voice and glue that held his family together. 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.
When he isn't teaching or coaching, Schildt enjoys spending time with his family and remains a lifelong sports fan. Baseball has been a central part of his life since childhood, when his dream was to become a professional baseball player.
His personal philosophy is reflected in several quotes that have influenced him throughout his life, including:
“If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.” and
“We are what we repeatedly do.”
At Atlantic Collegiate Academy, Schildt is excited to combine his experiences as an alumnus, educator, coach, and mentor to help build a baseball program defined by high standards, strong relationships, competitive excellence, and a commitment to developing the whole student-athlete.
