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An Era Ends At Mitchell

Photo by RICK HARMON

Mitchell head football coach Scott Schmitz

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 15, 2008

LAND O' LAKES – Scott Schmitz knew before the first uniform was issued in August this would be his last year as the only head football coach the Mitchell Mustangs have ever had.

After 31 years of coaching, Schmitz made a not-too-secret announcement official following the Mustangs 24-7 season-ending victory against Sunlake that he had coached his final game as a head coach.

"I really knew it during the summer," Schmitz said. "But I really wanted to coach these kids. This is one of the best locker rooms I've ever been involved in in my 31 years. I told the kids after the Gulf game [the season-opener] that this would be my last year. And the reason I told them was I wanted them to understand that this whole thing is about them. The reason I came back was because of them. I wanted them to understand we're all in this together."

Schmitz started the Mustangs program in 1999 and compiled a 36-66 record in 9 years at Mitchell. He also started the River Ridge program in 1991 and has a 74-102 record overall. He made the playoffs six times, three at River Ridge (1995, 1996, 1998) and three at Mitchell (2002, 2003, 2004). He was 0-6 in the payoffs.

"He's had an outstanding career," said Sunlake coach Bill Browning, who started the Seahawks program last year. "You look at his coaching record and people might look at it and say, 'Well …' but the guy started two programs. I'm sure he's got the respect of all the area coaches. Starting as program is no easy task, believe me. He's given a lot to Pasco County."

Schmitz had high hopes for this year's Mustangs but a late-season injury to sophomore Ricky Trinidad proved t be too much to overcome.

"We worked so hard … the kids worked so hard," Schmitz said. "We really had a legitimate shot at winning seven games. Ricky [Trinidad] goes down early against CCC. When you have 1,000 yards sitting on the sidelines, that hurts you. These kids never made excuses. They worked hard in practice to try to overcome it. We lost two ballgames by a touchdown. They came out here and played a terrific second half and put the thing away. I'm so proud of them."

Schmitz is ready to enjoy some family time.

"I'm tired," he said. "I'm a very lucky man. I've been married to the same woman for 33 years. I have two great sons that are in coaching. And I've been able to do something that I absolutely love for 31 years. It doesn't get any better than that. It's just time.

"I want to do some other things … and I don't know what that is. It might be sitting around watching a little TV. I know it's time. I tell our kids constantly that if you can't make a 100 percent commitment to what you're doing out here, then you shouldn't be out here. And I would be fooling myself if I came out here and said I could make a 100 percent commitment."

Schmitz, 53, hopes to remain at the school as a safety and driver's education teacher. And he'll still have an eye on the team.

"I hope to stay on as a teacher and I hope to follow these kids," he said. "When football has been a part of your life for 40 years as a coach and a high school and college player, it's in your blood. I'm going to be around it a little bit but it's not going to be as a head coach."

Mitchell, a Class 5A school the past four years, is expected to drop to Class 4A next year with the opening of Anclote High School in Holiday.

Schmitz knows the new coach will have a solid team to work with next year.

"It's a great group of kids and they will do exactly what you ask them to do," he said. "They love one another. They care about each other. They don't want to let each other down. We return an awful lot of kids. We only lose three on offense and two on defense. The next football coach is going to have a good group of kids."

Correspondent Rick Harmon can be reached at tampabaystringer@gmail.com

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